m:mi:m\:m\m 


3  V>—  .  .  ^—         «-■>       I    •— ■' 


It 


^Vfc£i    t=    OS    ££  -«-    — 


1879. 


BANKING  HOUSE 


GEORGE  P.  BISSELL  &  CO., 


DEALERS   IN 


SAFE  EIGHT  PER  CENT.  BONDS, 
GOVERNMENT     SECURITIES, 

AND 

FIRST-CLASS    INVESTMENTS. 


Established  in  1854,  and  conducted  on  the  Safe  Principles  which 

govern  the  soundest  and  most  conservative  hankers 

of  the  United  States  and  England. 


HARTFORD,  CONN.,  U.  S.  A. 


GEO.   P.   BISSELL   &   CO. 

P.EG    LEAVE    THANKFULLY    TO    ACKNOWLEDGE 
THE    COURTESY    OF 

MR.  J.  T.  TROWBRIDGE 

IN    PERMITTING    THEM    TO    REPRINT 

"COUPON  BONDS," 

FROM  THE  ATLANTIC  MONTHLY. 


TRESS   OF 

M.  H.  MALLORY  &  CO., 

47  Lafayette  Place, 

NEW   YOK1C. 


COUPON  BONDS. 


PART    I. 

On  a  certain  mild  March  evening,  A.  D.  1864,       The     title     of 

t-v  1  ■     1  •  •  •  *h*s    story    sug- 

the  Ducklow  kitchen  had  a  general  air  of  waiting    „„i,„,„„„„n,. 

0  =>    gests  at  once  the 

for  somebody.     Mrs.  Ducklow  sat   knitting  by  the    Coupon     Bonds 
,.    ,         .      ,  ,  ,  ,  .  sold   by  Geo.  P. 

light  of  a  kerosene  lamp,  but  paused  ever  and  anon,    Bissejj    &    Co 

neglecting  her  stocking,  and  knitting  her  brows  in-    Bankers,    Hart- 

...  c  ■  t  rr,,        ford,    Conn.,    to 

stead,  with   an   aspect   of  anxious    listening.      ihe       ..  .    -      ... 

r  6  which  further 

old  gray  cat,  coiled    up  on   a  cushion  at  her  side,    attention  will  be 

purring   in  her  sleep,  purred   and   slept  as   if  she 
r  &  '      r  *  story     progress- 

knew  perfectly  well  who  was  coming  soon  to  occupy    es. 

that  chair,  and  meant  to  make  the  most  of  it.     The  old-fashioned 

clock,  perched  upon  the  high  mantel-piece  of  the  low-studded  room, 

ticked  away  lonesomely,  as  clocks  only  tick  when  somebody  is  waited 

for  who  does  not  come.    Even  the  tea-kettle  on  the  stove  seemed  to 

be  in  the  secret,  for  it  simmered  and  sang  after  the  manner  of  a  wise 

old  tea-kettle  fully  conscious  of  the  importance  of  its  mission.     The 

side-table,  which  was  simply  a  leaf  on  hinges  fixed  in  the  wall,  and 

looked  like  an  apron  when  it  was  down,  giving  to  that  side  of  the 

kitchen  a  curious  resemblance  to  Mrs.  Ducklow,  and  rested  on  one 


arm  when  it  was  up,  in  which  position  it  reminded  you  more  of  Mr. 

Ducklow  leaning  his  chin  on  his  hand — the  side-table  was  set  with 

a  single  plate,  knife  and  fork,  and  cup  and  saucer,  indicating  that 

the   person   waited   for  was   expected   to   partake   of   refreshments. 

Behind  the  stairway-door  was  a  small  boy  kicking  ofF  a  very  small 

pair  of  trousers  with  a  degree  of  reluctance  which  showed  that  he 

also  wished  to  sit  up  and  wait  for  somebody. 

"Say,  ma,  need  I  go  to  bed  now!"    he  exclaimed  rather  than 

inquired,  starting  to  pull  on  the  trousers  again  after  he  had  got  one 

For    Invest-  'eg  free.     "He'll  want  me  to  hold  the  lantern  for 

ments,  Bonds,  him  to  take  care  of  the  noss/' 
Stocks,      and 
Commercial  Pa-  "  ^»T°i  no>  Taddy,"  for  that  was  the  boy's  name 

per;    Letters  of   (short  for  Thaddeus),  " you'll  only  be  in  the  way,  if 
Credit  for  for- 
eign   Travel   is-    VOu  set  UP-     Besides,  I  want  to  mend  your  pants." 

sued  by  Drexel,  "You're    always  wantin'  to  mend   my  pants!" 

Morgan    &    Co., 

and    by    Brown    complained  the  youngster,  who  seemed  to  think  that 

Brothers  &  Co.,  jt  was  Dy  no  means  to  do  him  a  favor,  but  rather  to 
our     New    York 

Correspondents;  afford  herself  a  gloating  pleasure,  that  Mrs.  Duck- 
Deposits;  or  for  jOWj  wu0  ]uui   a  mania  for  patching,  required  the 
any  other  Bank-  . 
ing  Business  garment  to  be  delivered  up  to  her.        I  wish  there 

write  to  Geo.  P.    wasn't  such  a  thing  as  pants  in  the  world  ! " 
Bissell     &     Co.,  ■ 

Bankers      Hart-  C   *  at  wa7>  a'ter   a'l   the  trouble  and 

ford,  Conn.  expense  we've  been   to  clothe  ye!"  said  the  good 

woman,  reprovingly.     "  Where  would  you  be  now,  if  it  wasn't  for 
me  and  yer  Pa  Ducklow?" 

"I  shouldn't  be  going  to  bed  when  I  don't  want  to!"  he  mut- 
tered, just  loud  enough  to  be  heard. 

"You  ungrateful  child!"  said  Mrs.  Ducklow,  not  without 
reason,  for  Taddy  knew  very  well — at  least  he  was  reminded  of  the 
fact  often  enough — that  he  owed  to  them  his  home  and  all  its  com- 
forts. "Wouldn't  be  going  to  bed  when  you  don't  want  to!  You 
wouldn't  be  going  to  bed  when  you  want  to,  more  likely  ;  for  ten  to 

6 


*  one  you  wouldn't  have  a  bed  to  go  to.  Think  of  the  sitewation  you 
was  in  when  we  adopted  ye,  and  then  talk  that  way  !  " 

As  this  was  an  unanswerable  argument,  Taddy  contented  him- 
self with  thrusting  a  hand  into  his  trousers  and  recklessly  increasing 
the  area  of  the  forthcoming  patch.  "  If  she  likes  to  mend  so  well, 
let  her  !  "   thought  he. 

"Taddy,  are  you  tearing  them  pants?"  cried  Mrs.  Ducklow 
sharply,  hearing  a  sound  alarmingly  suggestive  of  cracking 
threads. 


ESTABLISHED   1854 


BANKING     HOUSE 

OF 

George  P.  Bissell  &  Co. 

The  undersigned  are  associated  as  Bankers  in  Hartford, 
Conn.,  under  the  name  and  style  of  GEO.  P.  BISSELL  & 
CO.,  having  an  office  of  Discount  and  Deposit,  and  General 
Banking  Business,  at  307  Main  Street,  Hartford,  Conn. 

They  give  their  attention  to  furnishing  safe  investments 
for  large  or  small  amounts,  the  discounting  and  negotiation 
of  Commercial  Paper  and  Loans,  making  collections  in  all 
parts  of  the  country,  and  buying  and  selling  Exchange,  Coin, 
and  Drafts  on  Europe. 

They  will  effect  purchases  and  sales  of  Government  Stocks, 
Bank    Stocks,  Railroad    Shares  and    Bonds,  and   all    other 


"I  was  pul  1  in*  'em  off,"  said  Taddy.     "  I  never  see  such  mean     * 
cloth  !  can't  touch  it,  but  it  has  to  tear. — Say,  ma,  do  ye  think  he'll 
bring  me  home  a  drum?" 

For    Invest-  "You'll  know  in  the  morning." 

ments,  Bonds,  .<  T  wam  to  know  to_n!ght.     He  said  mabbv  he 

Stocks,      and 

Commercial  Pa-     would.      Say,  can't   I  set  up?" 

per;    Letters   of  «.  j«|]   iet  you    ]cnow  whether    you    can    set    up, 

Credit  for  for-  J  r> 

eign   Travel    is-    after  you've  been  told  so  many  times  !  " 

sued  by  Drexel,  g0  sayjng,  Mrs.  Ducklow  rose  from  her  chair, 

Morgan    &    Co., 

and    by    Brown    la'd   down   her  knitting-work,   and   started   for  the 

Brothers  &  Co.,  stairway-door  with  great  energy  and  a  rattan.     But 
our     New    York 

Correspondents;  Taddy,  who  perceived  retribution  approaching,  did 
Deposits;  or  for  not  see  fit  to  wa;t  for  jt-     He  darted   up  the  stairs 
any  other  Bank- 
ing Business  an"    crept    into   his   bunk   with    the    lightness  and 

write  to  Geo.  P.    agility  of  a  squirrel. 

Bissell     &     Co., 

Bankers     Hart-  "I'm  a-bed  !      Say,  ma,  I'm  a-bed  ! "  he    cried, 

ford,  Conn.  eager    to    save    the    excellent    lady   the    trouble    of 

ascending  the  stairs.     "  I'm  'most  asleep  a'ready  !" 

"  It's  a  good  thing  for  you  you  be  !"  said  Mrs.  Ducklow,  gather- 
ing up  the  garment  he  had  left  behind    the  door.     "  Why,  Taddy, 


Stocks,  Bonds,  and  Securities.  Their  facilities  for  buying 
and  selling  on  commission  at  the  New  York  Board  are 
unsurpassed. 

They  will  also  act  as  agents  for  parties  abroad,  in  the  col- 
lection and  payment  of  interest  and  dividends,  and  in  the 
transaction  of  any  Banking  or  Brokerage  business. 

They  receive  deposits,  and  allow  interest  from  the  date  of 
the  deposit. 

The  undersigned  here  had  a  long  and  successful  experience  in 

8 


how  you  did  tear  it !  I've  a  good  notion  to  give  ye  a  smart  trounc- 
ing now  ! " 

Taddy  began  to  snore,  and  Mrs.  Ducklow  concluded  she  would 
not  wake  him. 

"It  is  mean  cloth,  as  he  says  !"  she  exclaimed,  examining  it  by 

the  kerosene  lamp.     "  For  mv  part,  I  consider  it  a       Geo-  p-  Bissell 

.    ,       .       ,  ,      ,  ,  .  .        ,,       &  Co. 's  Real  Es- 

great  misfortin  that  shoddv  was  ever  invented.     \  e    tate  g  cent. 

can't  buy  any  sort  of  a  ready-made  garment  for  boys    Bonds  are  made 

,  ,         .  .  ,,  "to    order," 

now-days  but  it  comes  to  pieces  at  the  least  wear  or    strong  and  reii_ 

strain,  like  so  much  brown  paper."  able- 

She  was  shaping  the  necessary  patch,  when  the  sound  of  wheels 
coming  into  the  yard  told  her  that  the  person  so  long  waited  for  had 
arrived. 

"That  you?"  said  she,  opening  the  kitchen  door  and  looking 
out  into  the  darkness. 

"  Yes,"  replied  a  man's  voice. 

"  Ye  want  the  lantern  ?  " 

"No;  jest  set  the  lamp  in  the  winder,  and  I  guess  I  can  git 
along.     Whoa!"     And  the  man  jumped  to  the  ground. 

"  Had  good  luck? "  the  woman  inquired  in  a  low  voice. 


Banking,  and  they  intend,  in  conducting  their  business,  to  exercise 
the  utmost  prudence  and  caution,  so  that  their  house  shall  rank 
second  to  no  Private  Banking  establishment,  Joint  Stock  Bank, 
Trust  Company,  or  Savings-Bank,  in  the  country  for  soundness 

and  stability. 

GEORGE  P.  BISSELL, 
ALBERT  H.  OLMSTED. 

VW  For  SPECIAL  arid  VALUABLE  informa- 
tion about  SAFE  INVESTMENTS,  see  page  23, 
and  following  pages. 


"  I'll  tell  you  when  I  come  in,"  was  the  evasive  answer. 
"  Has  he  bought  me  a  drum  ?  "  bawled  Taddy  from  the  chamber- 
stairs. 

For   Invest-  "  Do  you  want  me  to  come  up  there  and  'tend  to 

ments,   Bonds,  ?„  demanded  Mrs.  Ducklow. 

Stocks,      and 
Commercial  Pa-  The  boy  was  not  particularly  ambitious  of  en- 

per;    Letters   of  joying  that  honor. 

Credit  for  for-  '    J      ° 

eign   Travel    is-  "  You  be  still,  and  go  to  sleep,  then,  or  you'll 

sued  by  Drexel,  g[i  dnl//n!tcd  ,<< 

Morgan    &    Co., 

and    by    Brown  And   she   latched   the  stairway-door,  greatly  to 

Brothers  &  Co.,    ^  disma     of  Master   Taddy,  who  felt   that    some 

our     New    York 

Correspondents;    vast  and  momentous  secret  was  being   kept   from 

eposits  ;  or    or    n;mi     Overhearing  whispered  conferences  between 
any  other  Bank- 
ing  Business,    his  adopted  parents  in  the  morning,  noticing  also 

wn  e   o     eo.     .  ^    cautious  glances  they  cast  at  him,  and  the  per- 
Bissell     &     Co.,  6  "  * 

Bankers,    Hart-  sistency  with  which  they  repeatedly  sent  him  away 

ford,  Conn.  out  Qj-  sjgnt  on  sijgnt  and  absurd  pretences,  he  had 

gathered  a  fact  and  drawn  an  inference,  namely,  that  a  great  pur- 
chase was  to  be  made  by  Mr.  Ducklow  that  day  in  town,  and  that, 


Our  Terms  for  Receiving  Deposits. 

We  offer  the  following  advantages  to  all  who  open  accounts 
with  us  : 

i st.  We  receive  any  sum,  from  fifty  dollars  upward. 

2d.  We  PAY  INTEREST  from  the  DATE  of  DE- 
POSITS   till    the    DATE    of   WITHDRAWAL.     This 

IS  A  GREAT  ADVANTAGE  OVER  THE  SYSTEM  OF  QUARTER- 
DAYS  ADOPTED  BY  SAVINGS-BANKS,  BY  WHICH  DEPOSITORS 
LOSE    THE  INTEREST  ON  ALL   MONEY  DRAWN    BETWEEN    THE 

quarter-days.      We  give  them  the  whole  interest. 

10 


on  his  return,  he  (Taddy)  was  to  be  surprised  by  the  presentation 
of  what  he  had  long  coveted  and  teased  for — a  new  drum. 

To  lie  quietly  in  bed  under  such  circumstances  was  an  act 
that  required  more  self-control  than  Master  Taddy  possessed.  Ac- 
cordingly he  stole  down  stairs  and  listened,  feeling  sure  that  if  the 
drum  should  come  in,  Mrs.  Ducklow,  and  perhaps  Mr.  Ducklow 
himself,  would  be  unable  to  resist  the  temptation  of  thumping  it 
softly  to  try  its  sound. 

Mrs.  Ducklow  was  busy  taking  her  husband's  supper  out  of  the 
oven,  where  it  had  been  keeping  warm  for  him,  pouring  hot  water 
into  the  teapot,  and  giving  the  last  touches  to  the  table.  Then 
came  the  familiar  grating  noise  of  a  boot  on  the  scraper.  Mrs. 
Ducklow  stepped  quickly  to  open  the  door  for  Mr.  Ducklow. 
Taddy,  well  aware  that  he  was  committing  an  indiscretion,  but 
inspired  by  the  wild  hope  of  seeing  a  new  drum  come  into  the 
kitchen,  ventured  to  unlatch  the  stairway-door,  open  it  a  crack,  and 
peep. 

Mr.  Ducklow  entered,  bringing  a  number  of  parcels,  containing 

purchases  from  the  stores,  but  no  drum  visible  to  Taddy. 

"Did   you    buy?"    whispered    Mrs.    Ducklow,       Buy  Real  Es" 

tate  Bonds  pay- 
relieving  him  of  his  load.  ing    8   per  cent. 

Mr.  Ducklow  pointed  mysteriously  at  the  stair-    ofGeo.  P.Bissell 
3  &  Co.,  Hartford, 

way-door,  lifting  his  eyebrows  interrogatively.  Conn. 

"Taddy?"    said    Mrs.    Ducklow.      "Oh,   he's   abed — though   I 

3d.  We  add  the  interest  to  the  principal  on  the  1st  days 
of  May  and  November. 

4th.  We  allow  interest,  at  a  rate  which  may  be  agreed 
upon,  on  the  current  accounts  of  Merchants,  Manufacturers, 
Contractors,  Town  Officers,  Administrators  of  Estates,  and 
others  whose  funds  are  active,  receiving  the  money  in  large 


never  in  my  life  had  such  a  time  to  git  him  off  out  of  the  way  ; 

for  he'd  somehow  got  possessed  with  the  idee  that  you  was  to  buy 

For   Invest-  something,  and  he  wanted  to  set  up  and  see  what  it 

ments,   Bonds,  >■ 
Stocks,     and 

Commercial  Pa-  "  Strange  how  children  will  ketch  things  some- 

per ;   Letters  of    times  best    e  can  do  to  prevent !  "  said  Mr.  Duck- 
Credit  for  for-  J  ' 

eign    Travel    is-     low. 

sued  by  Drexel,  «  But  did  ye  buy  ?  " 
Morgan    &    Co., 

and    by    Brown  "  You  better  jest  take  them  matches  and  put 
Brothers  &  Co.,  .em  out    Q.  t|ie  w        fust    thing    -fore    ye    forgit    it. 
our    New    York  '                          6                                & 
Correspondents;  Matches  arc  dangerous  to  have  layin'  around,  and  I 
Deposits;  or  for  neyer  feel    safe   jjjj    ^  ,fe   gafe  .. 
any  other  Bank- 
ing Business,  And  Mr.  Ducklow  hung   up  his  hat,  and  laid 

write  to  Geo.  P.     j^g  overcoat  across  a  chair  in  the  next  room,  with 

Bissell     &     Co., 

Bankers,    Hart-    a   carefulness   and   deliberation  exhausting  to   the 

ford,  Conn.  patience  of  good  Mrs.  Ducklow,  and  no  less  trying 

to  that  of  Master  Taddy,  who  was  waiting   to  hear  the  important 

question  answered. 


or  small  sums,  and  paying  it  out  on  checks,  without  notice — 
just  as  the  account  would  be  kept  at  a  Bank — allowing 
interest  on  daily  balances.  On  less  active  accounts,  where 
the  rate  of  interest  allowed  is  higher  than  on  active  accounts, 
we  reserve  the  right  to  require  three  months'  notice  of  with- 
drawal, just  as  the  Savings-Banks  do;  but  in  twenty-five 
years'  business  we  never,  in  any  instance,  required  such 
notice. 

5  th.  We  conduct  our  business  upon  the  safe  principles  which 
govern  the  best  Savings-Banks  ;  and  at  the  same  time  we  have 
adopted  all  the  improvements  in  Banking  which  have  been 


"  Come ! "  said  she,  after  hastily  disposing  of  the  matches, 
"what's  the  use  of  keeping  me  in  suspense?      Did  ye  buy?" 

"Where  did  ye  put  'em?"  asked  Mr.  Ducklow,  taking  down 
the  bootjack.  For   Invest- 

"In  the  little  tin  pail,  where  we  always  keep    ™eais<  Bonds 

v      '  J.  r     Stocks,      and 

'em,  of  course!     Where  should  I  put  'em?"  Commercial  Pa- 

"You    needn't   be    cross!       I    asked    'cause    I    P";    Letters  of 

Credit    for    For- 
didn't  hear  ye  put  the  cover  on.      I  don't  believe    eign   Travel    is- 

ye  did  put  the  cover  on,  either  ;    and  I  sha'n't  be    sued  ^  Drexel, 
J  Morgan    &    Co., 

easy  till  ye  do!"  and    by    Brown 

Mrs.  Ducklow  returned  to  the  pantry  ;  and  her    Brothers  &  Co., 

our    New    York 
husband,  pausing  a  moment,  leaning  over  a  chair,    Correspondents; 

heard  the  cover  go  on  the  tin  pail  with  a  click  and    DePoslts ;  or  for 

any  other  Bank- 
a   clatter  which   betrayed    that,   if  ever  there   was    ing  Business, 

an  angry  and  impatient  cover,  that  was.  wn  e   °  ' 

°  }  v  '  Bissell     &     Co., 

"Anybody  been  here   to-day?"    Mr.   Ducklow    Bankers,    Hart- 
inquired,   pressing   the   heel    of  his    right    boot    in  *  Conn- 
the    jack,    and    steadying    the    toe    under    a    round    of    the    chair. 

"No!"  replied  Mrs.  Ducklow. 

"  Ye  been  anywhere  ?  " 


adopted  in  the  largest  Banks  and  Banking  Offices  in  New 
York  and  other  cities ;  we  are  thus  enabled  to  give  facilities 
and  extend  a  liberality  to  our  customers  which  incorporated 
institutions  cannot  do.  Another  great  advantage  which  we 
offer  lies  in  the  fact  that  we  have  no  board  of  directors 
before  whom  the  business  affairs  of  our  customers  have  to 
pass,  and  no  stockholders,  who,  with  the  directors,  have  a 
right  to  examine  the  accounts  of  our  depositors  and  dealers. 
We  have  but  two  partners,  to  whom  alone  the  transactions 

13 


"Yes!" 

"Where?"  mildly  inquired  Mr.  Ducklow. 

"No  matter!"  said  Mrs.  Ducklow,  with  decided  ill-temper. 

Mr.  Ducklow  drew  a  deep  sigh,  as  he  turned  and  looked 
upon  her. 

"Wal,   you    be    about    the    most    uncomftable   woman    ever    I 
see!"  he  said,  with  a  dark  and  dissatisfied  countenance. 
All     questions  "  ^    vou     can't    answer    my    question,    I    don't 

relating  to  Real    sce  why  I  need  take  the  trouble  to  answer  yours," 

Estate     Bonds 

and     other     In-    — anc^    Mrs.    Ducklow    returned    with    compressed 

vestments  cheer-    lipS    to  her  patching.      "  Yer  supper   is    ready;   ye 

fully     answered 

by    letter    or    in     can    eat    lt   when   >'e    Please- 

person   by  Geo.  "  I  Was  answerin'  your  question    as    fast    as    I 

P.  Bissell  &  Co.  ,     „        .  ■  , 

could,     said    her   husband,  in  a  tone  of   excessive 

mildness,  full  of  sorrow  and  discouragement. 

"I  haven't  seen  any  signs  of  your  answering  it!"  And  the 
housewife's  fingers  stitched  away  energetically  at  the  patch. 

"  Wal,  wal  !  ye  don't  see  everything." 

Mr.  Ducklow,  having  already  removed  one  boot,  gently  drew 
on   the    other.      As   it   came    off,   something   fell    out    on   the   floor. 


with  our  house  are  known,  and  we  make  no  reports  of  any 
kind  to  anybody.  We  consider  ourselves  the  confidential 
financial  agents  of  our  customers,  and  their  affairs  are  never 
the  subject  of  remarks  or  criticism. 

6th.  Our  customers  who  may  desire  information  concern- 
ing Stocks  and  Bonds  of  any  kind,  or  who  may  wish  to  be 
posted  upon  any  matters  in  our  line,  may  feel  at  liberty  to 
write  us  at  any  time  making  such  inquiries,  and  we  will  take 
great  pleasure  in  giving  all  the  information  in  our  power. 

14 


lie  picked  it  up,  and  with  a  triumphant  smile  handed  it  to  Mrs. 
Ducklow. 

"Oh,  indeed!      Is  this  the " 

She  was  radiant.  Her  hands  dropped  their  work  and  opened 
the  package,  which  consisted  of  a  large,  unsealed  envelope  and 
folded  papers  within.  These  she  unfolded  and  examined  with 
beaming  satisfaction. 

"  But  what  made  ye  carry  'em  in  yer  boots  so  ?  " 

"  To  tell  the  truth,"  said  Mr.   Ducklow,  in  a  suppressed  voice, 

"  1    was    afraid    o'  bein'  robbed.      I    never   was    so       Geo.  P.  Bissell 

afraid    o'  bein'    robbed  in  my  life  !      So,    iest   as   I  s         per 

J  cent.Real  Estate 

got  clear  o'  the  town,   I  took  it  out  o'  my  pocket"    Bonds   are    safe 

(meaning,  not  the  town,  but  the  envelope,  contain-    to  carrv  in  y°ur 

pocket, or  to  send 
ing  the  papers),  "  an'  tucked  it  down  my  boot-leg.    by      Registered 

Then,  all  the  way  home  I  was  scaret  when  I  was    Ma"  anywhere. 

ridin'   alone,   an'   still   more   scaret  when   I  heard   anybody  comin' 

after  me.      You  see,  it's  jest  like  so  much  money." 

And  he  arranged  the  window-curtain  in  a  manner  to  prevent 

the  sharpest-eyed  burglar  from  peeping  in  and  catching  a  glimpse 

of  the  papers. 


7th.   Our  Capital  is  Ample, 

and  we  have  been  established  in  Hartford,  as  Bankers,  more 
than  twenty- five  years;  and  although  during  that  time  there 
have  been  seasons  of  great  financial  disaster  to  the  country 
(particularly  in  1857,  i860,  and  1873),  we  have  conducted 
our  business  with  such  prudence  and  caution  that  we  have 
met  with  no  reverses,  even  in  the  worst  panics  in  the  money- 
market,  and  at  no  time  have  the  interests  of  our  depositors 
been  jeopardized.    (See  page  20). 

*5 


He  neglected  to  secure  the  stairway-door,  however.  There,  in 
his  hiding-place  behind  it,  stood  Taddy,  shivering  in  his  shirt,  but 
peeping  and  listening  in  a  fever  of  curiosity  which  nothing  could 
chill.  His  position  was  such  that  he  could  not  see  Mr.  Ducklow  or 
the  documents,  and  his  mind  was  left  free  to  revel  in  the  most  dar- 
ing fancies  regarding  the  wonderful  purchase.     He  had  not  yet  fully 


The  City  of  Indianapolis, 

the  capital  of  Indiana,  is  situated  in  the  geographical  centre 
of  the  State,  and  about  equidistant — from  200  to  260 
miles — from  Cincinnati,  St.  Louis,  and  Chicago ;  is  in  the 
centre  of  the  finest  agricultural  district,  and  is  the  largest 
strictly  inland  city  in  America.  Its  population  in  1850  was 
over  8,000,  in  i860  over  18,000,  in  1870  over  50,000,  and  is 
to-day  about  100,000.  The  city  has  twelve  completed  rail- 
roads, and  one  union  passenger  depot,  in  which  more  trains 
enter  and  depart  per  year  than  in  any  other  depot  in  the 
world.  The  coal  deposits  in  the  State  cover  one-fifth  of  its 
territory,  embracing  over  four  million  acres,  and  are  reached 
from  the  city  by  four  trunk  lines  of  railroad. 

The  commercial  transactions  of  the  city  amount  to  over 
thirty  millions  per  annum,  and  the  manufactured  products 
to  over  twenty-five  millions  per  annum.  The  value  of  tax- 
able property,  which  was  less  than  two  millions  in  1850,  is 
now  about  sixty-five  million  dollars.  The  total  indebtedness 
of  the  city  is  only  about  two  million  dollars,  and  the  total 
taxation  of  property  for  city,  county,  school,  and  State  pur- 
poses is  only  z\  per  cent. 

ib 


given    up    the    idea    of    a    new    drum,    although    the    image,    which 

vaguely  shaped  itself  in  his  mind,  of  Mr.  Ducklow       Gold   Coupons 

'•tucking    it    down    his    boot-leg,"    presented    diffi-    casned      and 

b  Bt       r  Bonds  bought  at 

culties.  the  Banking  Of- 

"This  is  the  bond,  you  see,"  Mr.  Ducklow  ex-    fice   of  Geo-   p- 

Bissell&Co.,307 
plained  ;  "  and  all  these  little  things  that  fill  out  the  Main  St.,  Hart- 
sheet  are  the  cowpons.     You  have  only  to  cut  off   ")rd>  Conn. 

The  city  is  laid  off  with  magnificent  wide  avenues,  the 
main  business  thoroughfare  being  120  feet  wide,  and  the 
other  streets  and  the  four  avenues,  running  from  the  centre 
to  the  four  corners  of  the  city,  being  90  feet  wide,  with 
handsome  growth  of  forest  trees  on  either  side,  which  pro- 
vision gives  the  city  the  appearance  and  comfort  of  a  mag- 
nificent park,  and  renders  sweeping  conflagrations  next  to 
impossible. 

There  is  not  a  more  healthy  and  delightful  city  in  the 
Union,  and  none  having  a  better  established  or  better 
endowed  system  of  public  schools. 

There  are  six  National  banks  in  the  city,  with  a  capital 
stock  of  $2,500,000  and  deposits  of  $3,000,000,  and  ten 
private  banks,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $1,840,000  and  deposits 
of  $3,900,000,  with  a  clearing-house  which  showed  a  business 
last  year  of  $57,000,000. 

As  a  receiving  and  packing  point  for  hogs  the  city  stands 
fourth  in  the  Union,  having  reached  as  high  as  350,000  head 
of  hogs  in  one  season ;  and  as  a  point  of  summer  packing, 
only  one  city,  Chicago,  leads    her.     One   of   her    packing- 

17 


one  o'  these,  take  it  to  the  bank  when  it  is  due,  and  draw  the 
interest  on  it  in  gold!" 

"But  suppose  you  lose  the  bonds?"  queried  Mrs.  Ducklow, 
regarding,  not  without  awe,  the  destructible  paper  representatives 
of  so  much  property. 

"That's  what   I've   been   thinkin' of ;   that's  what's  made  me  so 


houses  is  the  largest  in  the  world,  and  four  of  them  are  as 
complete  and  perfect  as  can  be  found  anywhere. 

As  a  receiving  and  shipping  point  for  grain  the  city  now 
stands  fourth  on  the  list,  and  must  at  no  distant  day  stand 
next  to  Chicago.  The  receipts  last  year  of  corn  were 
11,745,000  bushels,  of  barley  327,600  bushels,  of  oats 
2,107,800  bushels,  of  wheat  2,000,000,  and  of  rye  472,000 
bushels,  all  of  which  was  handled  by  three  elevators,  which 
are  well  conducted  and  handle  grain  at  less  cost  than  do 
those  of  other  cities. 

The  wholesale  and  jobbing  trade  of  the  city  last  year 
amounted  to  about  $15,000,000.  The  city  being  so  accessi- 
ble to  the  coal  fields,  is  one  of  the  best  points  in  the  West 
for  iron  manufacturing,  and  already  that  branch  of  the  trade 
is  well  established. 

The  city  being  in  the  heart  of  the  hard-timber  district  of 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  valley,  is  already  a  leading  point 
for  manufactories  in  that  line,  one  carriage-wheel  factory 
now  doing  a  business  of  $450,000  per  year,  another  of  shafts, 
felloes,  etc.,  $200,000  ;  one  sewing-machine  cabinet  work, 
$250,000;  one  chair  company,  $125,000;  one  of  staves  and 

18 


narvous  !  I  supposed  'twould  be  like  so  much  railroad  stock,  good 
for  nothin'  to  nobody  but  the  owner,  and  somethin'  that  could  be 
replaced  if  I  lost  it.  But  the  man  to  the  bank  said  no — 'twas  like 
so  much  currency,  and  I  must  look  out  for  it.  That's  what  filled 
all    the  bushes   with  robbers   as  I  come  along  the  road.     And  I  tell 


heading,  $400,000  ;  one  of  boxes,  $150,000;  and  there  is  in 
all  about  fifty  wood-working  establishments  furnishing 
employment  to  thousands  of  men,  and  producing  manu- 
factured goods  to  the  value  of  about  ten  millions  of  dollars, 
while  the  hard  lumber  shipped  from  the  city  in  the  rough 
amounts  to  about  five  millions  of  dollars  per  year. 

One  of  the  most  important  commercial  enterprises  to  the 
city  is  the  Union  Stockyards  and  Belt  Railroad.  The  capital 
invested  is  about  $500,000 ;  the  capacity  is  ample,  and  the 
construction  of  the  most  substantial.  While  they  have  only 
just  been  opened,  the  receipts  and  shipments  of  stock  are 
now  running  at  the  rate  of  over  100,000  head  per  month. 
The  tide  of  shipment  from  the  South-west  to  the  East  has 
scarcely  opened,  but  when  it  is  known  that  about  200  miles 
in  distance  can  be  saved,  and  equal  accommodations  can  be 
had  by  coming  to  the  yards  in  this  city  instead  of  going  to 
Chicago,  it  is  believed  that  the  yards  here  will  be  patronized 
by  all  shippers  south  of  a  line  with  St.  Louis.  These  are 
only  a  few  of  the  advantages  possessed  by  Indianapolis,  and 
which  must  furnish  great  recuperative  power,  and  at  no  dis- 
tant day  place  her  in  close  competition  with  the  leading 
cities  of  the  West. 

19 


ve,  'twas  a  relief  to  feel  I'd  got  safe  home  at  last  ;  though  I  don't  see 

now  how  we're  to  keep  the  plaguy  things  so  we   sha'n't   feel   uneasy 

about  'em." 

"Nor    I    neither!"    exclaimed    Mrs.    Ducklow,    turning    pale. 

If  Geo.  P.  Bis-  ••  Suppose  the  house  should  take  fire  !  or  burglars 

sell  &Co's  Bonds  ,        ,  ,     ,  ,      .     .       r      ,  , 

.„i,ctnrK„,„  should  break  in!  I  don  t  wonder  you  was  so 
are  lost  or  burn-  J 

ed,  simply  notify  particular  about  the  matches!  Dear  me!  I  shall 
them  at  their  of-  ,.   ,  .  ,        ,    ,       T,  .  .  .         ,  , 

c  J..I.  -ii  be  frightened  to  death  I  d  no  idee  twas  to  be 
fice  and  they  will  s 

stop    payment,    such    dangerous    property!      I    shall    be    thinking 

They    are     Bur-       ,   ,  ,,  .         .      ,,.  ,    ,    ,    , ,, 

,     %,       r  j    of  fires  and  burglars  ! — O-h-h-h  ! 

glar-Proof    and  ° 

Fire-Proof.  The    terrified    woman    uttered    a  wild   scream ; 

for  just  then  a  door  suddenly  flew  open,  and  there  burst  into 
the  room  a  frightful  object,  making  a  headlong  plunge  at  the 
precious  papers.  Mr.  Ducklow  sprang  back  against  the  table  set 
for  his  supper  with  a  force  that  made  everything  jar.  Then  he 
sprang  forward  again,  instinctively  reaching  to  grasp  and  save 
from  plunder  the  coupon  bonds.  But  by  this  time  both  he  and 
his  wife  had  become  aware  of  the  nature  of  the  intrusion. 

"Thaddeus!"  ejaculated  the  lady.  "How  came  you  here? 
Get  up  !      Give  an  account  of  yourself!" 

Taddy,  whose  abrupt  appearance  in  the  room  had  been  alto- 
gether involuntary,  was  quite    innocent  of  any  predator)-  designs. 


The  fundamental  rule  of  our  house,  and  one  to  which  we 
always  adhere,  is  to  steer  clear  of  all  speculation.  In  the 
twenty-five  years  of  our  history  we  have  lived  up  to  this 
mark,  and  the  result  has  been  not  only  our  own  steadily 
increasing  prosperity  and  accumulation  of  capital  in  our 
business,  but  the  growing  confidence  of  our  numerous  cus- 
tomers and  of  the  public  at  large. 


Leaning  forward  farther  and  farther,  in  the  ardor  of  discovery,  he 
had,  when  too  late  to  save  himself,  experienced  the  phenomenon 
of  losing  his  balance,  and  pitched  from  the  stairway  into  the  kitchen 
with  a  violence  that  threw  the  door  back  against  the  wall  with  a 
bang,    and    laid    him    out,    a    sprawling    figure,    in       For   Invest- 

scanty,  ghostly  apparel,   on   the  floor!  ments,  Bonds, 

Stocks,      and 
"What  ye  want?     What  ye  here  for?"  sternly    Commercial  Pa- 
demanded  Mr.  Ducklow,  snatching  him  up  by  one    Per'   Letters  of 

Credit   for   For- 
arm,  and   shaking  him.  eign    Travel   is- 

"  Don't  know,"  faltered  the  luckless  youngster,    sued  by  Drexel. 

Morgan  &   Co., 
speaking  the  truth  for  once  in  his  life.     "  Fell."        antj    ^y   Brown 

"Fell!       How  did    you    come    to   fall?      What    Brothers  &  Co., 

our    New    York 
are  you  out  o'  bed  for?"  Correspondents; 

"Don't    know" — snivelling    and     rubbing    his    Deposits,  or  for 

any  other  Bank- 
eyes.       "Didnt  know   I  was.  ing  Business, 

"Got  up  without  knowing  it  !  That's  a  likely  write  to  Geo.  P. 
,,     .,         .,  .    ^„  Bissell     &     Co., 

story!  How  could  that  happen  you,  sir?  said  Bankers  Hart- 
Mrs.    Ducklow.  ford,  Conn. 

"  Don't  know,  'thout  'twas  I  got  up  in  my  sleep,"  said  Taddy, 
who  had  on  rare  occasions  been  known  to  indulge  in  moderate 
somnambulism. 

"In  your  sleep!"  said  Mr.  Ducklow,  incredulously. 


We  deal  only  in  first-class,  safe,  and  well-known  securities, 
and  we  let  all  others  alone. 

U.  S.  Securities  a  Specialty. 

Our  facilities  are  such,  and  we  have  such  large  trans- 
actions with  the  Government,  and  with  dealers  in  New 
York,  that  we  are  able  to  give  as  good  terms  to  our  cus- 
tomers at  our  office  in  Hartford  as  they  can  get  in  New 


"  I  guess  so.  I  was  dreamin'  you  brought  me  home  a  new 
drum — tucked  down  yer — boot-leg,"  faltered  Taddy. 

"Strange!"    said    Mr.    Ducklow,   with    a    glance    at    his    wife; 

"  but  how  could  I  bring  a  drum  in  my  boot-leg?" 

For   Invest-  "  Don't    know,    'thout    it's    a    new    kind,    one 

ments,  Bonds,  thafR    shct   up  » 
Stocks,      and 

Commercial  Pa-  Taddy  looked  eagerly  round,  but  saw  nothing 

per;   Letters  of    ncw    or    interesting,   except    some    curious-looking 
Credit    for    For- 
eign  Travel    is-    Papers   which    Mrs.    Ducklow  was   hastily  tucking 

sued  by  Drexel,  into  an   envelope. 

Morgan    &   Co., 

and    by    Brown  "  Sa)'>   did   7e>   Pa?" 

Brothers  &  Co.,  "  Did    I?      Of    course    I    didn't!      What    non- 

our    New    York 

Correspondents-  sense!     But  how  came  ye  down  here?     Speak  the 

Deposits,   or   for    truth  '  " 
any  other  Bank- 
ing Business  "  ^  dreamt  you  was  blowin'  it  up,  and  I  sprung 

write  to  Geo.  P.    to   ketch    it,  when,    fust    I    knowed,   I   was    on    the 

Bissell     &    Co., 

Bankers      Hart-    fl°or>  ''^e    a    thousan'    o'    brick  !     'Mos    broke   my 

ford,  Conn.  knee-pans!"    whimpered  Taddy.      "Say,  didn't   ye 

bring  me  home  nothin'?      What's  them  things?" 

"Nothin'  little  boys  know  anything  about.     Now  run  back  to 

bed    again.      I    forgot    to  buy   you  a  drum  to-day,  but    I'll    git   ye 

somethin'  next  time  I  go  to  town — if  I  think  on't." 


York,  in  the  purchase  and  sale  of  United  States  securities, 
and  all  other  Stocks  and  Bonds. 

Coin  and  U.  S.  Coupons 

PURCHASED  AT  THE  HIGHEST  POSSIBLE  PREMIUM. 

Buying  and  Selling  Stocks  and  Bonds. 

Our  facilities  for  buying  and  selling  Stocks  and  Bonds  at 

22 


"So   ye    always    say,    but   ye    never   think    on't!"    complained 

Taddv. 

"There,  there!      Somebody's  comin' !      What   a   lookin'  object 

you  are,  to  be  seen  by  visitors!"  For    Invest- 

There  was  a  knock.     Taddv  disappeared.     Mr.    ments,  Bonds, 

Stocks,     and 

Ducklow  turned    anxiously   to   his    wife,  who  was    Commercial  Pa- 

hastily  hiding  the  bonds  in  her  palpitating  bosom.    per'      e    ers  ° 
■*  r     r  a  Credit    for    For- 

"  Who  can  it  be  this  time  o'  night?"  eign   Travel    is- 

"Sakes  alive!"  said  Mrs.  Ducklow,  in  whose    sued  by  Drexel. 

Morgan    &    Co., 
mind    burglars  were  uppermost,  "  I  wish,  whoever    and    by    Brown 

'tis,    they'd    keep    away  !      Go    to    the    door,"    she    Brothers  &  Co-> 

our    New    York 
whispered,  resuming  her  work.  Correspondents; 

Mr.    Ducklow    complied ;    and,    as    the    visitor    Deposits,  or  for 

any  other  Bank- 
entered,   there    she    sat    plying   her   needle    as    in-    ing  Business, 

dustriously  and  demurely  as  though  neither  bonds  wnte  to  Geo-  "• 
1  ■  Bissell     &     Co., 

nor  burglars  had  ever  been  heard  of  in  that  remote  Bankers,  Hart- 
rural  district.  ford-  Conn- 

"  Ah,  Miss  Beswick,  walk  in  !  "  said  Mr.  Ducklow. 

A  tall,  spare,  somewhat  prim-looking  female  of  middle  age, 
with  a  shawl  over  her  head,  entered,  nodding  a  curt  and  precise 
good-evening,  first  to  Mr.  Ducklow,  then  to  his  wife. 

"What,  that  you?"  said  Mrs.  Ducklow,  with  curiosity  and  sufr- 


the   Brokers'  Board    in    New  York,  Boston,   Hartford,  and 
other  cities,  are  unsurpassed. 

Our   correspondents  in  the  large  cities  are  of  the  most 
reliable  character. 

INVESTMENTS. 

We  deal  largely  in  all  kinds  of  first-class  Stocks,  Bonds, 
and  Securities  ;  and  persons  wishing  to  make  investments, 

23 


prise.  "Where  on  'arth  did  you  come  from?  Set  her  a  chair, 
why  don't  ye,  father?" 

Mr.  Ducklow,  who  was  busy  slipping  his  feet  into  a  pair 
of  old  shoes,  hastened  to  comply  with  the  hospitable  sugges- 
tion. 

"  I've  only  jest  got  home,"  said  he,  apologetically,  as  if  fearful 

lest  the  fact  of  his  being  caught  in  his  stocking-feet  should  create 

suspicions;  so  absurdly  careful  of  appearances  some  people  become 

Call  on  Geo.  P.    when  they  have  anything    to  conceal.      "Jest    had 

Bissell  &  Co.  tjme  (0  kjck  nn-  boots  off,  vou  see.     Take  a  seat." 
any   time    be- 
tween  9   A.  M.  "  Thank    ye.      I    s'pose  you'll    think  I'm  wild, 
and    4    P.   M.    if  makin>   calls   at   this  hour!" 
you    want    first- 
class     Invest-  And    Miss    Beswick    seated    herself,    with    an 

ments,  or  wish    ancruiai-    movement,   and    held    herself    prim    and 
to   do   any   busi- 
ness    connected    erect  in  the  chair. 

with  Banking.  "Why,  no,  I  don't,"  said  Mrs.  Ducklow  civilly; 

while    at   the    same    time    she  did  think  it  very  extraordinary  and 

unwarrantable  conduct  on  the  part  of  her  neighbor  to  be  walking 

the    streets    and    entering   the  dwellings    of  honest   people,  alone, 

after  eight  o'clock,  on  a  dark  night. 

"  You're  jest  in  time  to  set  up  an'  take  a  cup  o'  tea  with  my 

husband;"   an    invitation   she    knew  would   not   be  accepted,  and 


cither  temporarily  or  for  a  term  of  years,  will  find  at  our 
office,  at  all  times,  a  large  assortment  from  which  to  make  a 
selection. 

We  particularly  recommend  the 

EIGHT  PER  CENT.  REAL  ESTATE  BONDS 

which  we  offer,  based  upon  first  mortgages  on  first-class 
property  in  Cities  not  far  West. 


which  she  pressed  accordingly.  "  Ye  better,  Miss  Beswick,  if  only 
to  keep  him  company.     Take  off  yer  things,  wont  ye?" 

"  No,  I  don't  go  a-visitin',  to  take  off  my  things  and  drink  tea, 
this  time  o'  night  ! " 

Miss  Beswick  condescended,  however,  to  throw  back  the  shawl 

from  her   head,  exposing  to  view    a    long,    sinewy       For   Invest- 

neck,  the   strong    lines    of   which    ran    up   into    her    ™cnts.  Bonds- 

6  '  Stocks,      and 

cheeks,  and  ramified  into  wrinkles,  giving  severity    Commercial  Pa- 

to  her  features.      At  the  same  time  emerged  from    per;    Letters  of 

Credit  for  For- 
the  fold  of  the  garment,  as  it  were,  a  knob,  a  high,    eign   Travel   is- 

bare    poll,  so   lofty  and    narrow,    and    destitute    of   sued  by  Drexel> 

Morgan  &  Co., 
the  usual  ornament,  natural    or  false,  that  you   in-    and    by    Brown 

voluntarily  looked   twice   to  assure  yourself  that   it    Brothers  &  Co., 

our  New  York 
was  really  that  lovely  and  adorable  object,  a  female  Correspondents; 
head.  Deposits,  or  for 

any  other  Bank- 

"  I've  jest  run  over  to  tell  you  the  news,"  said    jng  Business, 

Miss    Beswick.  write  to  Geo.  P. 

Bissell     &     Co., 
"Nothing  bad,  I  hope?"    said    Mrs.    Ducklow.    Hankers,     Hart- 

"No    robbers    in    town?    for    mass}-    sake!"      And    ford>  Conn- 
Mrs.  Ducklowr   laid    her   hand    on    her    bosom,  to    make   sure   that 
the  bonds  were   still   there. 

"  No,  good  news — good  for  Sophrony,  at  any  rate  !  " 


They  are  in  the  form  of  handsomely-printed  Coupon 
Bonds,  having  ten  years  to  run,  Interest  Coupons,  payable 
semi-annually,  Bonds  and  interest  secured  by  trust  deeds  of 
first-class  property,  generally  blocks  of  fine  stores  in  such 
cities  as  Indianapolis,  Forte  Wayne,  Terre  Haute,  Grand 
Rapids,  Evansville,  Des  Moines,  and  other  first-rate  growing 
railroad   centres.     Loans   in  all   cases  are  for  less  than  the 


"Ah  !  she  has  heard  from  Reuben?" 

"No!"  The  severity  of  the  features  was  modified  by  a  grim 
smile.  "No!"  and  the  little  high  knob  of  a  head  was  shaken 
expressively. 

"What  then?"    Ducklow  inquired. 
For    Invest-  "Reuben  has  come  home!"     The  words  were 

ments,  Bonds,     spojcen    triumphantly,   and    the    keen    gray  eyes   of 

Stocks,     and       r  ' 

Commercial  Pa-    the  elderly  maiden  twinkled. 

per;    Letters  of  "Come    home!    home!"    echoed    both    Duck- 

Credit    for    For- 
eign   Travel    is-    lows  at  once,  in  great  astonishment. 

sued  by  Drexel,  Miss  Beswick   assured   them  of  the  fact. 

Morgan    &    Co., 

and    by    Brown  "  My  !  how  you  talk  !"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Ducklow. 

Brothers  &  Co.,     „  T  never  dreame(1  of  such  a When  did  he  come  ?" 

our    New    York 

Correspondents;  "  About  an  hour  'n'  a  half  ago.     I  happened  to 

Deposits,  or  for    ^e  jQ  tQ  Sophrony's.     I  had  jest  gone  over  to  set 
any  other  Bank- 
ing Business,    a  little  while  with  her  and  keep  her  company — as 

write  to  Geo.  P.     T>ve  0ften  done,  she  seemed  so  lonely,  livin'  there 

Bissell     &     Co., 

Bankers,    Hart-    with    her    two    children    alone    in    the    house,   her 

ford,  Conn.  husband  away  so.      Her  friends  ha'n't   been    none 

too  attentive   to   her  in  his  absence,  she  thinks — and  so  I  think." 

"I — 1  hope  vou  don't  mean  that  as  a  hint  to  us,  Miss  Beswick?-' 

said  Mrs.  Ducklow. 


land  alone  is  worth,  and  the  buildings  must  be  good  blocks 
or  tasteful  dwellings,  renting  well,  and  well  insured  in  solid 
companies.  We  have  the  property  appraised,  not  by  the 
friends  and  neighbors  of  the  borrower,  hut  by  our  own 
agents  and  by  Bankers,  gentlemen  of  large  experience,  who 
are  personal  friends  of  ours  and  who  have  a  reputation  at 
stake  which  they  will  not  jeopardize  by  over  appraisement. 

26 


"  You  can  take  it  as  such,  or  not.  jest  as  you  please  !  I  leave 
it  to  your  own  consciences.  You  know  best  whether  you  have  done 
your  duty  to  Sophrony  and  her  family  whilst  her  husband  has  been 
off  to  the  war;  and  I  sha'n't  set  myself  up  for  a  judge.  You  never 
had  any  boys  of  your  own,  and  so  you  adopted  por  in  vest- 
Reuben,  jest  as  vou  have  latelv  adopted  Thaddeus;    ments>   Bonds, 

Stocks,  and 
and  I  s'pose  you  think  you've  done  well  by  him,  Commercial  Pa- 
jest  as  vou  think  vou  will   do  bv  Thaddeus,   if  he's    Per  •    Letters   of 

Credit  for  For- 
a  good  boy,  and  stays  with  you  till  he  s  twenty-one."    ejKn    Travel   is- 

"  I  hope  no    one    thinks  or  says   the   contrary,    sued  by  Drexel, 

Morgan  &  Co., 
Miss   Beswick  !      said   Mr.   Ducklow,  gravely,  with    and    by    Brown 

flushed   face.  Brothers  &  Co., 

our    New    York 
"  There  may  be  two  opinions  on  that  subject  !"    correspondents- 

said  Miss  Beswick,  with  a  slight  toss  of  the  head,    Deposits,  or  for 

any  other  Bank- 
setting  that  small  and  irregular  spheroid  at  a  still    in     Business 

loftier  and  more  imposing  altitude.    "  Reuben  came    write  to  Geo.  P. 

,  .      '       ,,  ,  ,  ,  Bissell     &     Co., 

to  you  when  he  was  jest  old  enough  to  be  of  use    Bankers     Hart- 

about  the  house  and  on  the  farm  ;  and  if  I  recollect    ford,  Conn. 

right,  you  didn't  encourage  idleness  in  him  long.     You  didn't  give 

his  hands  much  chance  to  do  'some  mischief  still'!     No,  indeed; 

nobody  can  accuse  you  of  that  weakness!"     And  the  skin  of  the 

wrinkled  features  tightened  with  a  terrible  grin. 


There  is  no  safer  investment  than  a  Bond  and  Mortgage ; 
and  a  Bond  and  Mortgage,  well  selected,  in  any  of  the  cities 
previously  named,  is  as  good  as  one  in  Boston  or  Hartford, 
besides  paying  better  interest. 

We  have  sold  this  class  of  Bonds  for  the  past  twenty- 
three  years.  They  have  stood  the  test  of  panics,  fires,  and 
disasters,  and  we  venture  to  say  that  the  interest  and  prin- 

27 


"  Nobody  can  say  we  ever  overworked  the  boy,  or  ill  used  him 
in  any  way  !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Ducklow  excitedly 

"No!  /"don't  say  it !     Hut  this  I'll  say,   for  I've   had    it   in  my 

mind  ever  since  Sophrony  was  left  alone — I  couldn't  help  seein'  and 

For    Invest-    feelin",  and   now  you've   set  me  a-talkin',  I   may  as 

ments,  Bonds,  wejj  Speak  out.     Reuben  was  always  a  good   bov, 
Stocks, and 

Commercial  Pa-  anQ<    a   will  in    boy,   as   you   yourselves   must   allow; 

per;    Letters    of  aQ(j  ]le  p.litj  his  way  from  t}ie  first/' 
Credit    for    For- 
eign   Travel    is-  "I   don't    know    about    that!"    interposed    .Mr. 

sued  by  Drexel,     Ducklow,     taking      up     his      knife     and     fork,     and 

Morgan    &    Co., 

and    by    Brown    dropping  them   again,   in   no   little   agitation.      "  He 

Brothers  &  Co.,    was    a    good    and    willin'    bov,    as    you    say ;    but 
our    New    York  "  .  . 

Correspondents;    tae   expense   of  clothin     him    and    keepin    him    to 

Deposits,  or   for     school " 

any  other  Bank- 
ing Business  "He   paid    his  way   from    the   first!      repeated 

write  to  Geo.  P.    Miss  Beswick,  sternlv.     "  You  kept  him  to  school 

Bissell     &     Co.,         . 

Bankers      Hart-    wmtcrs'    when    he    did    more    work     fore    and    after 

ford,  Conn.  school   than  an\'  other  bov  in    town.      He  worked 

all  the  time  summers  ;  and  soon  he  was  as  good  as  a  hired  man  to 

you.      He   never  went  to   school    a   da}-  after  he  was  fifteen  ;    and 

from  that  time  he  was  better  'n  any  hired  man,  for  he  was  faithful, 

and  took  an  interest,  and  looked  after  and  took  care  of  things,  as 


cipal  have  been  more  promptly  paid  than  on  the  same 
amount  of  Eastern  mortgages  held  by  any  Savings-Banks 
in  New  England.  They  are  confidently  recommended  as  a 
solid,  tried  security  to  all  who  desire  an  absolutely  safe 
investment. 

As   we  are  receiving  letters   from  all  parts  of  the  country 
and    from    abroad,   inquiring  about    these    Bonds,   we    give 

28 


no  hired  man  ever  would  or  could  do,  as  I've  heard  you  your- 
self say,  Mr.  Ducklow!" 

"  Reuben  was  a  good,  faithful  boy  ;  I  never  denied  that !  I  never 
denied  that  !  " 

"  Well,  he  stayed  with  you  till  he  was  twenty-one — did  ye  a 
man's  service  for  the  last  five  or  six  years;  then  Always  "set 
you  giv'  him  what  you  called  a  settin'  out — a  new    out"  your  boys, 

)  r  ■    .  and     g'rls     t00> 

suit  o   clothes,  a  yoke  of  oxen,  some  farmin  -tools,    with     some     of 

and   a  hundred  dollars  in  money  !     You,  with  yer    Geo.   P.    Bissell 

i  ,      nr      r%      i  ,  ■    .  1  •  i         Tiiii  &    Co.'s    8    per 

thousands,  Mr.  Ducklow,  giv  him  a  hundred  dollars  .  Real  Estate 

in  money  !  "  Bonds.  Nothing 

,,~,  ,  ....  ,  ,  better  can  be  had 

ihat    was    only    a    beginnin  ,    only    a    begin-    .      ,.     .        „ 

J  ■  °  to       set  up      on 

nin',  I've    always    said  !"    declared  the  red-flushed    or    to    "go    to 

,  sleep  on." 

farmer. 

"  I  know  it ;  and  I  s'pose  you'll  continner  to  say  so  till  the  day 

of  yer  death  !     Then  may-be  you'll  remember   Reuben   in  yer  will. 

That's  the  way  !     Keep  puttin'  him  off  as  long  as  you  can  possibly 

hold  on  to  your  property  yourself — then,  when  you  see  you've  got  to 

go  and   leave   it,   give  him  what  you   ought   to  Ve  gi'n  him  years 

before.     There  a'n't  no  merit  in  that  kind  o'  justice,  did  ye  know  it, 

Mr.  Ducklow  !     I  tell  ye,  what  belongs  to   Reuben   belongs   to  him 

now — not    ten  or  twenty  year  hence,  when  you've  done  with  it,  and 


below  such  information,  in  a  concise  form,  as  occurs  to  us 
will  be  of  value  in  deciding  upon  the  merits  of  this  security. 
ist.  The  Property. 
We  never  lend  on  farm-lands,  or  what  is  called  "out 
property,"  of  any  kind.  We  take  good  central  improved 
property,  which  in  most  cases  is  renting  for  more  than  the 
interest  on  the  loan. 

-9 


he  most  likely  wont  need  it.  A  few  hundred  dollars  now  11  be 
more  useful  to  him  than  all  your  thousands  will  be  by-and-by. 
After  he  left  you  he  took  the  Moseley  farm  ;  everybody  respected 
him,   everybody    trusted   him  ;    he   was   doin'  well,  everybody  said  ; 

For    Invest-    then  he  married  Sophrony,  and  a  good  and  faithful 

merits,   Bonds,         .,-,.,  ,  .  ,   ,-       ,,     ,  ,      ,     , 

„..      ,  ,    wife  she  s  been  to  him  ;  and  finallv  he  concluded  to 

Stocks,      and 

Commercial  Pa-    buv  the  farm,  which  you  yourself  said  was  a  good 

per ;    Letters   of    .  ,  .  ....... 

!,...,      „         idee,  and  encouraged  him  in    t. 
Credit    for    For-  ° 

eign   Travel    is-  "So   it  was;    Reuben   used    judgment   in   that, 

_    _    '    and    he'd  have  got  along  well  enough  if  't  hadn't 
Morgan    &   Co.,  ° 

and    by    Brown    been  for  the  war,"  said   Mr.   Ducklow  ;   while  his 

Brothers  &  Co.,         .r  .    .    _,  .    ,  .  .  .., 

„    ,     wife  sat  dumb,  not  daring  to  measure  tongues  with 
our    New    York 

Correspondents;    their  vigorous-minded  and  plain-speaking  neighbor. 

Deposits,  or  for  .,  T  , ,,  .  ,  -.r.  t,  .  ,  ..  Tr  .  ,  ,  .. 
r  .  '  ,  lest  so !  said  Miss  Beswick.  It  it  hadn  t 
any  other  Bank- 
ing Business,  been  for  the  war!  He  had  made  his  first  pay- 
write  to  Geo.  P.  1111.  .  .,  .i_ 
_.  ,,  „  „  ments,  and  would  have  met  the  rest  as  thev  came 
Bissell     &    Co.,  ' 

Bankers,  Hart-  due,  no  doubt  of  it.  But  the  war  broke  out,  and 
or  '     onn-  he  left  all  to  sarve  his  country.     Says  he,  'I'm  an 

able-bodied  man,  and  I  ought  to  go,'  says  he.  His  business  was 
as  important,  and  his  wife  and  children  was  as  dear  to  him,  as 
anybody's ;  but  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  go,  and  he  went.  They 
didn't  give   no   such  big  bounties  to  volunteers   then    as   they  do 


2d.     How  is  it  Appraised  ? 

It  is  appraised  by  our  own  agents  and  attorneys,  gentle- 
men of  rare  ability  and  extreme  caution,  who  are  resident 
in  each  city  where  we  make  loans,  who  are  in  our  interest, 
and  who  are  bound  to  value  it  as  low  as  possible,  so  as 
to  be  on  the  safe  side.  Then  we  have  their  valuations 
reviewed   by  bank  officers  and  others,  who  are  our  friends 


now,  and  it  was  a  sacrifice  to  him  every  way  when  he  enlisted. 
But  says  he,  'I'll  jest  do  my  duty,'  says  he,  'and  trust  to  Provi- 
dence for  the  rest.'  You  didn't  ^//Vcourage  his  goin' — and  you 
didn't    /^courage    him,    neither,    the    way    you'd    ought    to." 

"My!  what  on 'arth,  Miss  Beswick  ! Seems       For    Invest- 
to  me   you're   takin' it  upon  yourself  to  say  things    ments>  Bonds, 

Stocks,  and 
that  are  uncalled  for,  to  say  the  least  !  I  can't  Commercial  Pa- 
understand  what  should  have  sent  you  here,  to  tell    Per'   Letters  of 

Credit  for  For- 
me what's  my  business,  and  what  a'n't,  this  fashion  !    ejgn    Travel   is- 

As  if  I  didn't  know  my  own  duty  and  intentions!"    sued  bv  Drexel, 

Morgan  &  Co., 
And  Mr.  Ducklow  poured  his  tea  into  his  plate,  and    and    by    Brown 

buttered  his  bread  with  a  teaspoon.  Brothers  &  Co., 

our    New    York 
"I    s'pose    she's   been    talking  with  Sophrony,    correspondents; 

and  she  has  sent  her  to  interfere."  Deposits,  or  for 

any  other  Bank- 
"Mrs.    Ducklow,    you    don't     s'pose     no     such    inK  Business 

thing  !    You  know  Sophrony  wouldn't  send  anybody    write  to  Geo.  P. 

_     ,  Bissell     &     Co., 

on  such  an  arrant ;  and  you  know  I  a  n  t  a  person    Bankers     Hart- 

to  do  such  arrants,  or  be  made  a  cat's-paw  of  by    ford,  Conn. 

anybody.     I  a'n't  handsome,  not  partic'larly  ;  and  I  a'n't  wuth  my 

thousands,  like  some  folks  I  know  ;  and  I  never  got  married,  for  the 

best  reason  in  the  world — them  that   offered  themselves  I  wouldn't 

have,  and   them   I  would   have   had    didn't    offer   themselves  ;   and 


and  who  must  fully  confirm  the  valuation  of  our  agents, 
or  we  will  not  take  the  loan.  Further,  if  desired  at  the 
time  of  purchasing  the  Bond,  we  give  the  purchaser  a 
memorandum  allowing  him  two  months  to  make  inquiries; 
and  if  in  that  time  he  finds  that  the  property  is  over-valued, 
we  will  take  back  the  Bond  at  par  and  accrued  interest. 
We  have  given  this  privilege  in  very  many  cases,  and  never 

31 


I  a'n't  so  good  a  Christian  as  I  might  be,  I'm  aware.  I  know  my 
lacks  as  well  as  anybody  ;  but  bein'  a  spy  and  a  cat's-paw  a'n't  one 
of  'em.  I  don't  do  things  sly  and  underhand  !  If  I've  anything 
to  say  to  anybody,  I  go  right  to  'em,  and  say  it  to  their  face — 
Don't  wait  to    sometimes  pcrty  blunt,   I   allow.      But   I   don't  wait 

be  sent, but  come  to  be  j*«/  by  other  folks.     I've  a  mind  u'  my  own, 

of  your  own  ac. 

cord  and  exam-  and    m.v  own   u'av  °    doin'   things:    that  you   know 

ine  Geo.  P.  Bis-  as  we{[  as  anvbodv.     So,  when  you  say  vou  s'pose 

sell    &    Co.'s 

Bonds.     If  you  Sophrony  or    anybody  else   sent  me  here  to  mter- 

haven't  a   thou-    ferc>    j    sav    vou    s'p0se   what    a'n't    true,   and   what 

sand  dollars  they 

sometimes    take    }'ou   know  an'1   truc-   Mrs-    DucklOW ! 

partial     pay-  }[rs    Ducklow  was  annihilated  ;  and  the  visitor 

ments,     or     will 

pay  you  interest     went   on  • 

on  deposit.  ••  \s    for    you,    Mr.    Ducklow,    I    haven't    said 

you    don't   know  your    own    duty   and    intentions.      I've    no   doubt 

you  think  you  do,  at  any  rate." 

"  Very  well  !  then  whv  can't  you  leave  me  to  do  what 
I  think  's  my  duty"  Everybody  ought  to  have  that  privi- 
lege." 

"  You  think  so?  " 

"  Sartin,  Miss  Beswick  ;  don't  you  ?  " 

"  Why,  then,  /ought  to  have  the  same.'' 


yet  had  a  Bond  returned ;' and  where  inquiries  have  been 
made,  the  invariable  report  has  been  that  the  property  was 
worth  more  than  we  stated  it  to  be. 

3d.    Amount  Loaned  on  Property. 
We  lend   an  amount   less  than   the  land   alone  is   worth. 
We  require  that  fine  buildings  shall  be  upon  the  property, 
well    insured    in    the  best   companies,  thus  (while  we  have 


"Of  course;  nobody  in  this  house '11  prevent  your  doin' 
what  you're  satisfied  's  your  duty." 

"Thank  ye  !  much  obleeged  !  "  said  Miss  Beswick,  with  gleam- 
ing, gristly  features.  "That's  all  I  ask.  Now  I'm  satisfied  it's 
my  duty  to  tell  ye  what  I've  been  tellin'  ye,  and  what  I'm  goin'  to 
tell  ye  :  that's  my  duty.  And  then  it'll  be  your  duty  to  do  what 
you  think's  right.     That's  plain,  a'n't  it?" 

"  Wal,  wal  !"  said  Mr.  Ducklow,  discomfited  ;  "  I  can't  hender 
yer  talkin'  I  s'pose  ;  though  it  seems  a  man  ought  to  have  a  right  to 
peace  and  quiet  in  his  own  house." 

"Yes,  and  in  his  own  conscience  too!"   said   Miss   Beswick. 

"And    if  you'll  hearken  to  me  now,  I  promise  you'll  have  peace 

and  quiet  in  your  conscience,  and  in  your  house  too,  such  as  you 

never  have  had  yit.     I  s'pose  you  know  your  great  fault,  don't  ye? 

Graspin' — that's  your  fault,  that's  your  besettin'  sin,  Mr.  Ducklow! 

You  used  to  give  it  as  an  excuse  for  not  helpin' 

Rich  and  poor 

Reuben  more,  that  you  had  your  daughter  to  pro-    both    profit    by 

vide  for.     Well,  your  daughter   has   got    married;    investinS     their 

savings   in   Geo. 
she  married  a  rich  man — you  looked  out  for  that, —    p.  Bissell&Co.'s 

and  she's  provided  for,  fur  as  property  can  provide       per  cent-     eal 

v     v       ■  *  Estate  Bonds, 

for  any  one.      Now,  without  a  child  in  the  world 

to  feel   anxious  about,  you   keep    layin'  up   and    layin'    up,  and '11 


good  buildings  well  insured)  we  rely  upon  the  value  of  the 
land  at  a  low  appraisement. 

4th.    Titles. 

We  require  in  all  cases  full  abstracts  of  titles,  tracing  the 
property  back  to  the  United  States  or  State  title,  and  con- 
tinuing down  in  unbroken  succession.  This  abstract  we 
have    certified    to   by  the  clerks    of    courts  and    recorders 

33 


continner  to  lay  up,  I  s'pose,  till  ye  die,  and  leave  a  great  fortin' 

to  your  daughter,  that  already  has  enough,  and  jest  a  pittance  to 

Reuben  and  Thaddeus." 

"  No,  no,   Miss    Beswick  !    you're    wrong,  you're    wrong,  Miss 

For    Invest-  Beswick!      I   mean   to   do  the  handsome   thing  by 

merits,  Bonds,  bmh  Qn   ,em,., 
Stocks,     and 
Commercial  Pa-  "  Mean   to  !   ye   mean   to  !      That's   the  way  ye 

per,      etters  o  flatter    ver    conscience,    and    cheat    ver   own    soul. 

Credit    for    For-  J 

eign   Travel    is-  Why  don't  ye  do  what  ye  mean  to  do  to  once,  and 

sued  by  Drexel,  ^                       ,    ,       That-S   the   way   to  gU   the  good 

Morgan    &    Co.,  )           &               & 

and    by    Brown  of  your  property.     I  tell  ye,  the  time's  comin'  when 

ro    ers  &  Co.,  ^e  recollection  of  havin'  done  a  good  action  will 
our    New    York 

Correspondents;  be  a  greater  comfort  to  ye  than  all  the  property  in 
Deposits,  or   for  the   world       Then   you^]    ]ook   back)  and    sa_    .  Whv 
any  other  Bank- 
ing Business,  didn't  I  do  this  and  do  that  with  my  money,  when 

write  to  Geo.  P.  »twas  m  my  power,  'stead  of  hoardin'  up  and 
Bissell     &     Co.,  '      i  v 

Bankers,    Hart-  hoardin'  up  for  others  to  spend  after  rne?'     Now, 

ord,  Conn.  as     j     wag     g()jn'     to     saV)     ve     didn't    <//Vcourage 

Reuben's  enlistin',  and  ye  didn't  /^courage  him  the  way  ye  might. 
You  ought  to've  said  to  him,  'Go,  Reuben,  if  ye  see  it  to  be  ver 
duty;  and,  as  fur  as  money  goes,  ye  sha'n't  suffer  for 't.  I've  got 
enough  for  all  on  us ;  and  I'll  pay  ver  debts,  if  need  be,  and  see  't 


of  the  counties  where  the  property  is  located,  and  then 
besides  all  this  we  have  it  carefully  revised  and  searched 
by  two  good  attorneys,  who  give  their  written  certificate  of 
perfect  title  in  fee  simple.  In  this  matter  of  titles  we  take 
extraordinary  precautions,  and  we  never  yet  made  a  mistake. 
5th.  Time  the  Bonds  have  to  Run. 
The  Bonds    are  in    all    cases    ten-year    Bonds,  with    the 

34 


yer  fam'ly  's  kep'  comftable  while  ye're  away.'     But  that's  jest  what 

ye  didn't  say,  and  it's  jest  what  ye  didn't  do.    All  the  time  Reuben's 

been  sarvin'  his  country  he's  had  his  debts  and  his  family  expenses 

to  worry  him  ;  and  you  know  it's  been  all  Sophrony  could  do,  by 

puttin'  forth    all    her  energies,  and  strainin'  every       For    Invest- 

narve,    to    keep   herself    and    children    from    goin'    rnents,  Bonds, 

Stocks,      and 
hungry   and    ragged.     You've    helped  'em    a  little,    Commercial  Pa- 

now   and    then,    in    driblets,    it's    true;    but,    dear    Per!    Letters  of 

Credit    for    For- 
me !  "    exclaimed    Miss    Beswick  ;    and    she    smote    ejgn    Travel   is- 

her  hands,  palms  downwards,  upon  her  lap,  with  a    sued  by  Drexel, 

Morgan    &    Co., 
look  and  gesture  which  signified  that  words  utterly    and    by    Brown 

failed  to  express  her  feelings  on  the  subject.  Brothers  &  Co., 

our    New    York 
Mrs.    Ducklow,    who,    since    her    annihilation,    correspondents; 

had    scarcely  ventured  to  look   up,  sat    biting   her    Deposits,  or  for 

any  other  Bank- 
lips,   drawing  quick    breaths   of  suppressed   anger    in     Business 

and    impatience,    and    sewing    the    patch    to    the    write  to  Geo.  P. 

Bissell     &     Co., 
trowsers     and     to    her    own    apron    under    them.    Bankers     Hart- 
There  was   an   awful    silence,  broken    only  by  the    ford,  Conn, 
clock    ticking,  and    Mr.  Ducklow  lifting   his   knife   and   fork,    and 
letting  them  fall  again.      At  last  he  forced  himself  to  speak. 

"Wal,  you've  read  us  a  pretty  smart  lectur',  Miss  Beswick,  I 
must  say  !      I  can't  consaive  what  should  make  ye   take   such  an 


privilege  given  to  the  signer  of  the  Bond  to  pay  them  any 
time  after  five  years.  They  may  thus  be  called  Five-Ten 
Bonds.  We  have  adopted  this  plan,  as  it  allows  a  borrower 
to  pay  up  his  loan  by  degrees,  which,  in  many  cases,  is  more 
convenient  than  to  raise  a  large  sum  at  once.  He  is  only 
allowed  to  pay  Bonds  in  full  which  are  drawn  by  lot,  and 
not  by  partial  payments  on  each.     This  adds  to  the  strength 

35 


interest  in  our  affairs  ;  but  it's  very  kind   in  ye, — very  kind,  to  be 
sure  ! " 

"  Take  an   interest  !     Haven't  I  seen  Sophrony's  struggles  with 

them  children  ?     And  haven't  I  seen  Reuben  come  home  this  very 

For    Invest-    night,    a     sick    man,    with    a    broken     constitution, 

men   s,      on  s,    an(j   no   proSpect  before    him    but    to   give    up  his 

Stocks,      and 

Commercial  Pa-    farm,  lose  all    he  has    paid,  and    be    thrown    upon 

per;    Letters   of    the  charities   0f  the   worid  wjth  his  wife   and   chil- 
Credit    for    For- 
eign  Travel    is-    dren  ?     And  if  the  charities  of  friends  are  so  cold, 

sued  by  Drexel,    what  can  jie  expect  0f  tiie   charities  of  the  world? 

Morgan    &    Co., 

and    by    Brown    Take  an  interest!     I  wish  you  took  half  as  much! 

Brothers  &  Co.,  ijere  i've  sot  half  an  hour,  and  you  haven't  thought 
our    New    York 

Correspondents;  to   ask   how  Reuben   appeared,  or  anything  about 

Deposits,  or   for  usm  |" 
any  other  Bank- 
ing Business,  "May-be    there's  a  good  reason  for  that,  Miss 

write  to  Geo.  P.  Beswick.      'Twas  on  my  lips  to  ask  half  a  dozen 
Bissell     &     Co., 

Bankers,    Hart-  times  ;    but  you    talked   so  fast,  you  wouldn't  give 

ford,  Conn.  me  a  chance." 

"Well,  I'm  glad  you've  got  some  excuse,  though  a  poor  one  !" 
said  Miss  Beswick. 

"  How  is  Reuben  ?  "  Mrs.  Ducklow  meekly  inquired. 

"All  broken  to  pieces, — a  mere  shadder  of  what  he  was.     He's 


of  the  Bonds  which  remain,  as  there  is  no  release  of  any  of 
the  property  till  all  are  paid. 

6th.     In  Case  of  Foreclosure. 

In  case  of  non-payment  of  interest  (which  but  seldom 
happens),  any  one  Bondholder  can  direct  a  foreclosure,  but 
he  does  it  for  all  the  Bondholders  in  common.     No  one  or 

36 


had  his  old  wound  troublin'  him  agin  ;  then  he's  had  the  fever,  that 

came  %vithin  one  of  takin'  him  out  o'  the  world.     He  was  in  the 

hospitals,  ye  know,  for  two  months  or  more  ;  but  finally  the  doctors 

see 't   his   only   chance   was   to   be    sent   home,   weak  as   he   was. 

A   sergeant    that   was   comin'  on   brought   him  all       For   Invest- 

the  way,  and    took  him  straight  home;  and  that's    ments>  Bonds, 

Stocks,      and 
the   reason   he   got   along    so    sudden    and    unex-    Commercial  Pa- 

pected,  even  to  Sophronv.      Oh,  if  you  could  seen    per;   Letters  of 

'  J  Credit    for   For- 

their   meetin',  as  I  did  !   then  you  wouldn't   sneer    eign  Travel   is- 

at    my  takin'   an    interest ! "      And    Miss  Beswick,    ^"ed  by  °re*e1' 
J  Morgan    &   Co., 

strong-minded    as    she  was,  found   it    necessary  to    and    by    Brown 

make    use    of   her    handkerchief.      I    didn't    stop    Brothers  &  Co-> 

our    New    York 
Only    to    help    put    him    to   bed,    and    fix    things   a    Correspondents; 

little  ;    then  I  left  'em  alone,  and  run  over  to  tell    DeP°sits.  or  for 

any  other  Bank- 

ye.      It's  a  pity  you  didn't  know  he  was  in  town    ing  Business, 

when   you  was  there  to-dav,   so   as   to   bring  him    wri  e   °     e0'     " 

Bissell     &     Co., 

home  with  ye.  But  I  s'pose  )'OU  had  your  invest-  Bankers,  Hart- 
ments  to  look  after.  Come,  now,  Mr.  Ducklow,  ford'  Conn- 
how  many  thousan'  dollars  have  you  invested,  since  Reuben  's 
been  off  to  the  war,  and  his  folks  have  been  sufferin'  to  home? 
You  may  have  been  layin'  up  hundreds,  or  even  thousands,  that 
way,  this  very  day,  for  aught    I    know.      But  let  me  tell   ye,  you 


more  Bondholder  has  any  rights  or  preference  over  another. 
All  share  alike. 

7th.    For  what  can  they  be  Foreclosed? 

The  Bonds,  or  deed,  can  be  foreclosed  for  non-payment 
of  interest  promptly,  or  if  the  borrower  neglects  to  keep  his 
property  insured  in  companies  satisfactory  to  the  trustee, 
who  acts  for  the  Bondholder,  or  if  he  allows  anything  to  be 

37 


wont  git  no  good  of  such  property, —  it'll  only  be  a  cuss  to  ye, 
— till  you  do  the  right  thing  by  Reuben.     Mark  my  word!" 

There  was  another  long  silence. 

"You  a'n't  going,  be  ye,  Miss  Beswick?"  said  Mrs.  Ducklow, 
— for  the  visitor  had  arisen.     "  What's  yer  hurry  ?  " 

For    Invest-  "No  hurry  at  all  ;  but   I've  done  my  arrant  and 

merits,   Bonds.  -j  i  *«  « •_»       /-i       %      •    ■  . 

-         .  '  !    said  mv  sav,  and  mav  as  well  be  goin  .     Good-night. 

Stocks,      and  '  -  s 

Commercial  Pa-    Good-night,  Mr.  Ducklow.'' 

per,      e    ers  o  And  Miss  Beswick,  pulling  her  shawl  over  her 

Credit    for   For-  v  a 

eign   Travel    is-    head,  stalked  out  of  the  house  like  some  tall,  gaunt 

sue       y      rexe  ,  Spectre    leaving  the   Ducklows  to   recover   as   best 

Morgan    &    Co.,  *                              ° 

and    by    Brown  they  could   from   the  consternation   into  which  they 

Brothers  &  Co.,  ha(j  bgcn  thrown  by  her  coming. 

our    New    York 

Correspondents;  "Did  you   ever!"  said   Mrs.  Ducklow.  gaining 

Deposits,  or  for    courage  to  speak  after  the  visitor  was  out  of  hear- 
any  other  Bank- 
ing Business,     mg. 

write  to  Geo.  P.  ..  She-S        t      tongue  j  •'  said  Mr    Ducklow. 

Bissell     &     Co.,  6 

Bankers,    Hart-  "  Strange   she   should   speak    of  your  investing 

ford,  Conn.  money  to-day  !     D'ye  s'pose  she  knows?" 

"  I  don't  see  how  she  can  know."  And  Mr.  Ducklow  paced  the 
room  in  deep  trouble.  "  I've  been  careful  not  to  give  a  hint  on't  to 
anybody,  for  I  knew  jest  what  folks  would  say:  'If  Ducklow  lias 
got  so  much  money  to  dispose  of,  he'd  better  give  Reuben  a  lift.' 
I  know  how  folks  talk." 


done  on  the  premises  calculated  to  lessen  its  value  (for 
example,  if  he  pulls  down  a  building,  or  lets  it  go  to  decay, 
or  changes  it  from  a  store  to  a  concert-saloon,  or  anything 
of  that  kind) ;  for  any  of  these  causes  foreclosure  and  sale 
can  at  once  take  place.     And  our  agents   are  instructed  to 


"Coming  here  to  browbeat  us  !"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Ducklow.  "  I 
wonder  ye  didn't  be  a  little  more  plain  with  her,  father  !  I  wouldn't 
have  sot  and  been  dictated  to  as  tamely  as  you  did  !" 

"  You  wouldn't  ?  Then  why  did  }*e?  She  dictated  to  you  as 
much  as  she  did  to  me;  and  you  scurce  opened  your  head  ;  you 
didn't  dars'  to  say  yer  soul  was  yer  own  !  "  por    invest- 

"  Yes    I  did    I "  ments,  Bonds, 

Stocks,      and 

"  You  ventur'd  to  speak  once,  and  she  shet  commercial  Pa- 
ve   up   quicker  *n   lightnin'  !       Now  tell    about   vou    Per!    Letters  of 

Credit  for  For- 
wouldn't  have  sot  and  been  dictated  to  like  a  tame    eign    Travel   is- 

noodle,  as  I  did  !"  sued  bV  Drexel, 

Morgan    &    Co., 
"  I  didn't  say  a  tame  noodle."  and    by    Brown 

"  Yes,   ye   did.      I    might    have   answered    back    Brothers  &  Co., 

our  New  York 
sharp   enough,   but   I  was   expectin'  you   to    speak.    Correspondents; 

Men  don't  like  to  dispute  with  women."  Deposits,  or  for 

any  other  Bank- 
"  That  s   your    git-off!       said    Mrs.     Ducklow,    ing.  Business, 

trembling  with  vexation.  "  You  was  jest  as  much  write  to  Geo.  P. 
f     .,      f,  ,  T  ,    .        Bissell     &     Co., 

afraid  of  her  as  I  was.  1  never  see  ye  so  cowed  in  Bankers  Hart- 
all  my  life  !  "  ford,  Conn. 

"  Cowed  !  I  wasn't  cowed,  neither.  How  unreasonable,  now, 
for  you  to  cast  all  the  blame  on  to  me  ! " 

And  Mr.  Ducklow,  his  features  contracted  into  a  black  scowl, 
took  his  boots  from  the  corner. 

"Ye  ha'n't  got  to  go  out,  have  ye?"  said  Mrs.  Ducklow.     "I 


make  it  a  part  of  their  business  to  see  that  the  properties  on 
which  we  have  Loans  are  kept  in  first-class  order,  and  report 
to  us  any  neglect  on  the  part  of  the  owner ;  and  should  this 
report  be  made,  the  Trustee  would  at  once  insist  upon  the 
fulfilment  of  the  agreement  in  the  deed.      (See  page  43.) 

39 


shouldn't  think  you'd  put  on  yer  boots  jest  to  step  to  the  barn  and 
see  to  the  hoss." 

"  I'm  goin'  over  to  Reuben's." 

"  To  Reuben's  !     Not  to-night,  father  ! " 

"Yes,  I  think  I  better.  He  and  Sophrony  '11  know  we  heard  of 
his  gittin'  home,  and  they're  enough  inclined  a'ready  to  feel  we 
neglect  'em.     Haven't  ye  got  somethin'  ye  can  send?" 

"  I  don't  know," — curtly.  "  I've  scurce  ever  been  over  to 
Sophrony's  but  I've  carried  her  a  pie  or  cake  or  something  ;  and 
mighty  little  thanks  I  got  for  it,  as  it  turns  out ! " 


Grand  Rapids,  Michigan. 

The  city  of  Grand  Rapids  was  incorporated  in  1850,  with 
a  population  of  2,600.  Its  present  population  is  over  32,000. 
It  is  located  on  both  sides  of  Grand  River  (the  largest  stream 
in  the  State),  28  miles  from  Grand  Haven,  90  miles  east  from 
Milwaukee,  140  miles  north-east  of  Chicago,  and  165  miles 
west  of  Detroit.  The  city  derives  its  name  from  the  rapids 
of  the  river — which  is  900  feet  wide  at  this  point — and 
through  the  corporation  has  a  fall  of  20  feet  over  a  bed  of 
rock  of  limestone  foundation.  An  immense  power  is  thus 
provided,  which  is  being  rapidly  utilized  by  the  two  canals 
on  either  side  of  the  river,  the  water  being  diverted  into  the 
canals  by  means  of  dams.  Its  manufacturing  interests  are 
very  great,  and  rapidly  increasing.  The  more  noted  enter- 
prises in  this  direction  are  several  extensive  manufactories 
of  cabinet  furniture  of  all  kinds  and  most  elaborate  designs; 
machine  shops,  where  steam-engines  of  the  largest  class  are 

40 


"Why  didn't  ye  say  that  to  Miss  Beswick,  when  she  was 
runnin'  us  so  hard  about  our  never  doin'  anything  for  'em?" 

" 'T  wouldn't  have  done  no  good  ;  I  knew  jest  what  she'd  say. 
'What's  a  pie  or  a  cake  now  and  then?' — that's  jest  the  reply  she'd 
have  made. — Dear  me!  what  have  I  been  doing?*'  Mrs.  Duck- 
low,  rising,  had  but  just  discovered  that  she  had  stitched  the 
patch  and  the  trousers  to  her  apron.  "So  much  for  Miss  Bes- 
wick !"  she  exclaimed,  untying  the  apron-strings,  and  flinging  the 
united  garments  spitefully  down  upon  a  chair.  "  I  do  wish  such 
folks  would  mind  their  own  business  and  stay  to  home!" 


made  ;  furnaces,  boiler  shops,  fiouring-mills  ;  saw-mills,  some 
cutting  120  thousand  feet  of  lumber  daily;  sash,  door,  and 
blind  factories;  also,  tub,  bucket,  pail,  sieve,  hub,  clothes- 
pin, axe,  saw,  faucet,  stave,  wagon,  carriage,  edge  tool ;  agri- 
cultural implements,  barrel,  packing  and  salt  box  manufacto- 
ries, many  of  them  the  largest  kind  in  the  West.  There  are 
also  chemical  works,  tanneries,  breweries,  and  soap  and 
candle  factories.  An  extensive  wholesale  trade  is  done  in 
hardware,  groceries,  provisions,  and  clothing,  with  the 
immense  pineries  and  timber  country  north  of  the  city. 

Five  distinct  railroads  enter  the  city,  over  which  thirty- 
five  trains  daily  come  and  go.  There  are  two  street  rail- 
ways, and  three  public  and  two  railroad  bridges  span  the 
river.  Just  out  of  the  corporation  are  four  extensive  plaster 
or  gypsum  quarries,  with  mills  that  furnish  a  large  business 
annually  in  ground  plaster  and  stucco. 

Building  stone,  lime,  and  sand  are  found  within  the  cor- 

41 


"You've  got  the  bonds  safe?"  said  Mr.  Ducklow,  putting  on 
his  waistcoat. 

"  Yes  ;  but  I  wont  engage  to  keep  'em  safe.  They  make  me  as 
narvous  as  can  be.  I'm  afraid  to  be  left  alone  in  the  house  with 
'em!     Here,  you  take  'em." 

"  Don't  be  foolish.  What  harm  can  possibly  happen  to  them  or 
you  while  I'm  away?  You  don't  s'pose  I  want  to  lug  them  around 
with  me  wherever  I  go,  do  ye?" 

"  I'm  sure  it's  no  great  lug.  I  s'pose  you're  afraid  to  go  acrost 
the  fields  alone  with  'em  in  yer  pocket.     What  in  the  world  we're 


porate  limits,  and  the  handsome  cream-colored  brick,  known 
as  Milwaukee  brick,  are  also  manufactured  in  the  city,  22 
million  made  in  1873. 

Grand  Rapids  is  noted  for  its  elegant  stores,  churches, 
private  residences,  good  hotels,  and  schools.  There  are 
three  daily,  six  weekly,  and  two  monthly  newspapers  pub- 
lished here,  one  in  the  Holland  language.  The  city  is  gas 
lighted,  has  an  efficient  uniformed  police,  a  paid  fire  depart- 
ment, a  large  free  circulating  library,  a  Board  of  Education 
and  of  Public  Works,  three  regular  banks,  and  several  private 
bankers.  A  free  postal  delivery  is  in  successful  operation  ; 
in  fact,  Grand  Rapids  is  a  live,  active,  busy  city,  and  is  sit- 
uated at  the  base  of  a  splendid  farming,  fruit,  and  timber 
region,  and  is  rapidly  improving  in  wealth  and  prosperity. 
All  of  the  U.  S.  District  and  Circuit  Courts  for  the  Western 
District  of  Michigan  are  held  here,  where  there  is  also  a 
U.  S.  Pension  Agency  and  a  Government  Depository. 

42 


going  to  do  with  'em  I  don't  see.     If  we  go  out,  we  can't  take  'em 

with  us,  for  fear  of  losing  'cm,  or  of  being  robbed  ;        Safe  -  Deposit 

i  \     >    ».   a  .      i  '  i_  t-         .,        Vaults  forUnited 

and  we  sha  n  t  dare  to  leave   em  to  home,  fear  the    ei  .     „      .        . 

'  StatesBonds  and 

house  '11  burn  up  or  git  broke  into."  other   securities 

,.,„  ,.,      5  ,  ,  ,  -     .     at   Geo.    P.    Bis- 

VVe  can  hide    em  where  no  burglar  can  find       ,,  „  „    ,    „    , 

&  sell&Co.  s,Hart- 

'em,"  said  Mr.  Ducklow.  ford,  Conn. 

"  Yes,  and  where  nobody  else  can  find  'em,  neither,  provided 

the   house    burns  and   neighbors  come  in   to   save        You    can    al- 

T,.,  ,  •    .,,    ^         ,  -«*■         ways   find  8  per 

things.     I  don  t  know  but   it  11   be  about  as   Miss    cent  Real  Estate 

Beswick    said:    we    sha'n't    take    no   comfort   with    Bonds  at  Geo.  P. 

i  i  r-,       ,         ii  Bissell   &  Co.'s; 

property  we  ought  to  make  over  to  Reuben."  a)so  other  first_ 

"Do  you  think   it  ought  to  be   made   over  to    class     Invest- 
_       ,         „      r .  ,       .  ,  ,  „  ments    in   Local 

Reuben ?     If  you  do,  it  s  new  to  me  !  »*-«»._    «„ji 

J  stocks      and 

"No,  I  don't!"  replied  Mrs.  Ducklow,  decid-    Bonds. 
edly.     "  I  guess  we  better  put  'em  in  the  clock-case  for  to-night, 
hadn't  we?" 

"Jest  where  they'd  be  discovered,  if  the  house  is  robbed  !     No: 

I've  an  idee.     Slip  'em  under  the  settin'-room  carpet.     Let  me  take 

'em :    I   can  fix  a  place  right  here  by  the  side  of   the  door." 

With  great  care  and   secrecy  the  bonds  were         If    they    had 
,  ,     .  .         been  Geo.  P.  Bis- 

deposited  between  the  carpet  and  the  floor,  and  a        „  &  Co  .    8  Der 

chair  set  over  them.  cent.  Bonds,  no 

such  care  would 


"What  noise  was  that?"  said  the  farmer,  start- 


have  been  neces- 


ing.  sary. 

"Thaddeus,"   cried   Mrs.    Ducklow,    "is   that   you?" 
It  was  Thaddeus,  indeed,  who,  awaking  from  a  real  dream  of 

8th.    The   Deeds. 

The  deeds  are  Deeds  of  Trust  drawn  in  the  strongest 
manner.  In  twenty  years'  experience  we  have  noticed  and 
incorporated  into  our  deeds  all  the  strong  points  known  to 

43 


the  drum  this  time,  and,  hearing  conversation  in  the  room  below, 
had  once  more  descended  the  stairs  to  listen.  What  were  the  old 
people  hiding  there  under  the  carpet?  It  must  be  those  curious 
things  in  the  envelope.  And  what  were  those  tilings,  about  which 
so  much  mystery  seemed  necessary?  Taddy  was  peeping  and  con- 
sidering, when  he  heard  his  name  called.  He  would  have  glided 
For    Invest-    back  to  bed  again,  but  Mrs.  Ducklow,  who  sprang 

ments,  Bonds,    tQ  the  stairwav-door,  was  too  quick  for  him. 

Stocks, and 

Commercial  Pa-  "  What  do  you  want  now?"'  she  demanded. 

per;   Letters  of  "  I— I  want  you  to  scratch  my  back,"  said  Taddy. 

Credit    for    For- 
eign  Travel    is-  As  he  had  often  come  to  her  with  this  innocent 

sue       y     rexe  ,    request    after  undressing  for  bed,  he   did  not   see 

Morgan    &    Co., 

and    by    Brown    why   the   excuse  would   not   pass  as  readily  as  the 

Brothers  &  Co.,  prevjous  one  of  somnambulism.  But  Mrs.  Ducklow 
our     New    York 

Correspondents;  was  in  no  mood  to  be  trifled  with. 

Deposits,  or   for  <.  j  »j,  scratch  vour   back  for  ye  i  ••      And  seizing 
any  other  Bank- 
ing Business,  her  rattan,  she  laid    it  smartly   on    the    troublesome 

write  to  Geo.  P.  part  to  t]ie  terror  and  pain  of  poor  Taddv,  who 
Bissell     &     Co.,     *  r  r  .  > 

Bankers,  Hart-  concluded  that  too  much  of  a  good  thing  was  de- 
ford,  Conn.  cidedly  worse  than  nothing.  "There  you  sir,  that's 
a  scratching  that'll  last  ye  for  one  while!" 

And  giving  him  two  or  three  parting  cuts,  not  confined  to  the 
region  of  the  back,  but  falling  upon  the  lower  latitudes,  which  they 
marked  like  so  many  geographical  parallels,  she  dismissed  him 
with  a  sharp  injunction  not  to  let  himself  be  seen  or  heard  again 
that  night. 


the  law,  and  such  documents  have  well  been  styled  at  the 
West  "scalp  mortgages."  The  borrower  must  pay.  If  he 
does  not,  no  mercy  is  shown  him.  He  is  allowed  thirty 
days'  notice,  and  if  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  is  delinquent, 

44 


Taddy  obeyed,  and,  crying  himself  to  sleep,  dreamed  that  he 

was  himself  a  drum,  and  that  Mrs.  Ducklow  beat  him. 

"Father!"  called  Mrs.  Ducklow  to  her  husband,  who  was  at 

the    barn,    "do   you    know   what    time    it    is?      It's 

Geo.  P.  Bissell 
nine    o  clock  !      I    wouldn't    think    of   going    over    &    Co  ,«.    office 

there  to-night;  they'll  be  all  locked  up,  and    abed    open  at  9  o'clock 

,        .  ...  „  A.M. 

and  asleep,  like  as  not. 

"Wal,  I  s'pose  I  must  do  as  you  say,"  replied  Mr.  Ducklow, 
glad  of  an  excuse  not  to  go — Miss  Beswick's  visit  having  left  him 
in  extremely  low  spirits. 

Accordingly,  after  bedding  down  the  horse  and  fastening  the 
barn,  he  returned  to  the  kitchen  ;  and  soon  the  prosperous  couple 
retired  to  rest. 

"  Why,  how  res'less  you  be ! "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Ducklow,  in 
the  middle  of  the  night.     "What's  the  reason  ye  can't  sleep?" 

"  I  don't  know,"  groaned  Mr.  Ducklow.  "  I  can't  help 
thinkin'  o'  Miss  Beswick.  I  never  was  so  worked  at  any  little 
thing."' 

"Well,  well  !  forget  it,  father;   and  do  go  to  sleep!" 

"  I  feel  I  ought  to  have  gone  over  to  Reuben's !  And  I 
should  have  gone,  if 't  hadn't  been  for  you  !" 

"  Now  how  unreasonable  to  blame  me  ! "  said  Mrs.  Ducklow. 
"Ye  might  have  gone;    I  only  reminded  ye  how  late  it  was." 

Mr.  Ducklow  groaned,  and  turned  over.  He  tried  to  forget 
Miss  Beswick,  Reuben,  and  the  bonds,  and  at  last  he  fell  asleep. 

"Father!"  whispered  Mrs.  Ducklow,  awaking   him. 

the  property  is  foreclosed  and  must  pay  all  expenses,  even 
to  the  lawyer's  fees,  of  the  Bondholder.  There  is  no  stay, 
valuation,  or  appraisement  law  ;  and  a  right  of  redemption 
of  only  one  year,  during  which  time  the  interest  rises  to  ten 

45 


"What's  the  matter?" 

"  I  think — I'm  pretty  sure — hark  !  I  heard  something  sounded 
like  somebody  gitting  into  the  kitchen  winder  !  " 

"It's  your  narvousness."  Yet  Mr.  Ducklow  listened  for 
further  indications  of  burglary.  "Why  can't  ye  be  quiet  and  go 
to  sleep,  as  you  said  to  me?" 

"  I'm  sure  I  heard  something  !  Anybody  might  have  looked 
through  the  blinds  and  seen  us  putting — you  know — under  the 
carpet." 

"Nonsense  !  .'t  a'n't  at  all  likely." 

But   Mr.  Ducklow  was  more  alarmed  than  he   was  willing  to 

confess.     He  succeeded  in  quieting  his   wife's  apprehensions,  but 

at    the    same    time    the     burden    of   solicitude    and    wakefulness 

seemed    to   pass   from  her  mind  only  to  rest  upon  his  own.     She 

Geo.  P.  Bissell    soon  after  fell  asleep;    but   he  lay  awake,  hearing 

&    Co.'s    8    per  burglars  in  all  parts  of  the  house  for  an  hour  longer, 
cent. Real  Estate  ,                                                                                        ^ 
Bonds  cannot  be  "  What  now?      suddenly  exclaimed  Mrs.  Duck- 
used    if    stolen,  low,    starting  up  in  bed. 
Should  Burglars  . 
break  into  your  l    thought     I    might     as     well     git     up    and 

house,    hand    satisfy    myself,"    replied    her    husband,    in   a    low, 

them  your  Real 

Estate    Bonds    agitated  voice. 

with  "the  com-  He  had  risen,  and  was  groping  his  way  to  the 

plements  of  the 

season,"     then  kitchen. 

notify    Geo.    P.  "  \s  there  anything?"    she  inquired,  after  list- 

Bissell  &  Co.  by  .                             . 

telegraph,    and  ening    'ong    Wlth    chilling    blood,    expecting    each 

you  are  all  right,    moment  to  hear  him  knocked  down  or  throttled. 

He  made  no  reply,  but  presently  came  gliding  softly  back 
again. 

"I  can't  find  nothin'.  But  I  never  in  all  my  life  heard  the 
floors  creak  so  !  I  could  have  sworn  there  was  somebody  walkin' 
over  'em  !  " 

"I  guess  you're  a  little  excited,  a'n't  ye?" 

46 


"No — I  got  over  that ;  but  I  did  hear  noises  !  " 
Mr.  Ducklow,  returning  to  his  pillow,  dismissed  his  fears, 
and  once  more  composed  his  mind  for  slumber.  But  the  burden 
of  which  he  had  temporarily  relieved  his  wife  now  returned 
with  redoubled  force  to  the  bosom  of  that  virtuous  lady.  It 
seemed  as  if  there  was  only  a   certain  amount  of  available  sleep 

in  the  house,  and  that  when  one  had  it  the  other 

For    In  vest- 
must  go  without ;  while  at  the  same  time  a  swarm    ____«._    B , 

°  ments,   Bonds, 

of  fears    perpetually    buzzed    in    and    out    of    the    Stocks,     and 

.     .        ,  .     ,  .     ,   .  ,    ,  Commercial  Pa- 

mind,  whose  windows  wakefulness  left  open.  r    ,  , 

r  per ;    Letters    of 

"  Father  !  "    said   Mrs.  Ducklow,  giving  him  a    Credit   for  For- 

.    ,       tii  eign    Travel    is- 

violent  shake.  &  ,  .      _         , 

sued  by  Drexel, 

"Hey?  what?"' — arousing  from  his  first  sound  Morgan   &  Co., 

,  and    by    Brown 

ep*  Brothers  &  Co., 

"Don't  you  smell  something  burning?"  our    New    York 

Ducklow  snuffed  ;  Mrs.  Ducklow  snuffed  ;  they      orresPon  ens» 

J     Deposits,  or  for 

sat  up  in  bed,  and  snuffed  vivaciously  in  concert,    any  other  Bank- 

"  No-I   can't  say  I  do.     Did  you?"  ing  Business, 

'  J  write  to  Geo.  P. 

"Jest    as    plain    as    ever   I    smelt    anything  in    Bissell    &    Co., 

my    life  !      But    I    don't    so  "—snuff,    snuff—"  not    Bankers-    Hart" 

ford,  Conn, 
quite  so  distinct  now." 

"  Seems    to    me    I    do    smell    somethin',"    said    Mr.    Ducklow, 

imagination  coming  to  his  aid.     "It  can't  be  the  matches,- can  it?" 

"  I  thought  of  the  matches,  but  I  certainly  covered  'em  up  tight." 

They  snuffed  again — first  one,  then  the  other — now  a  series  of 


per  cent,  as  a  penalty  for  delinquency  ;  and  a  Receiver  is 
appointed  by  the  Court  to  collect  the  rents  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Bondholders. 

Our  deeds  are  the  most  perfect  documents  for  strength  and 
swiftness  of  execution  that  we  have  ever  seen,  and  in  twenty- 

47 


quick,  short  snuffs,  then  one  long,  deep  snuff  then  a  snuff  by 
both  together,  as  if  by  uniting  their  energies,  like  two  persons 
pulling  at  a  rope,  they  might  accomplish  what  neither  was  equal 
to  singly. 

"Good  heavens!"  exclaimed  Mr.  Ducklow. 

"Why,  what,  father?" 

"  It's  Thaddeus  !  He's  been  walkin'  in  his  sleep.  That's  what 
we  heard.     And  now  he's  got  the  matches  and  set  the  house  afire  !" 

He  bounded  out  of  bed  ;   he  went    stumbling  over  the    chairs 

in    the  kitchen,  and    clattering  among   the  tins  in  the  pantry,  and 

_  rushing  blindly  and    wildly    up    the    kitchen-stairs, 

Geo.  P.  Bissell  5  J  J       i 

&  Co.  are  Bank-    only    to    find    the    matches    all    right,   Taddy    fast 

ers   having    the    asieep|  ancj  no  indications  anywhere,  either  to  eye 

experience  of   a 

quarter  of  a  cen-    or  nostril,   of  anything  burning. 

tury,    during  " 'Twas  all  your  imagination,  mother!" 
which  time  they 

have  never  met  "My    imagination  !     You    was   jest    as    fright- 
wit  h     any    re-  cnc(j   as   J    was       j'm    sure   J   can't   tell   what   it  was 
verse,   but  have 
always   stood  I  smelt ;    I  can't  smell    it  now.     Did    you    feel  for 

"rm>  the — you  know  what  ?  '' 

Mrs.  Ducklow  seemed  to  think  there  were  evil  ones  listening, 
and  it  was  dangerous  to  mention  by  name  what  was  uppermost 
in  the  minds  of  both. 

"  I  wish  you  would  jest  put  your  hand  and  see  if  they're  all 
right ;  for  I've  thought  several  times  I  heard  somebody  taking  on 
'em  out." 

Mr.  Ducklow  had  been  troubled  by  similar  fancies  ;  so,  get- 
ting down  on  his  knees,  he  felt  in  the  dark  for  the  bonds. 

"Good  gracious!"  he  ejaculated.  . 

"What  now?"  cried  Mrs.  Ducklow.  "They  a'n't  gone,  be 
they?     You  don't  say  they're  gone!" 

"  Sure's  the  world  ! — No,  here  they  be  !  I  didn't  feel  in  the 
right  place." 

4S 


"How  you  did  frighten  me !     Mv  heart  almost  hopped  out  of 

my  mouth!"     Indeed  the    shock  was  sufficient  to    keep  the    good 

woman  awake  the  rest  of   the  night. 

Buy   our   Real 
Daylight    the    next    morning    dissipated    their    Estate    Bonds 

doubts,  and  made  both  feel  that  they  had  been  the    and    h  a  v  e    no 

doubts  or  fears, 
victims  of  unnecessary  and  foolish  alarms. 

"  I  hope  ye  wont  git  so  worked  up  another  night,"  said  Mr. 
Ducklow.  "  It's  no  use.  We  might  live  in  the  house  a  hundred 
years  and  never  hear  of  a  robber  or  a  fire.  Ye  only  excite  yer- 
self,  and  keep  me  awake." 

"  I  should  like  to  know  if  you  didn't  git  excited,  and  rob  me  of  my 
sleep  jest  as  much  as  I  did  you  !"  retorted  the  indignant  housewife. 

"  You  began  it  ;  you  fust  put  it  into  my  head.  But  never  mind  ; 
it  can't  be  helped  now.  Le'  's  have  breakfast  as  soon  as  ye  can  ; 
then  I'll  run  over  and  see  Reuben  ' 

"Why  not  harness  up,  and  let  me  ride  over  with  ye?" 

"Very  well;  mabby  that'll  be  the  best  way.  —  Come,  Taddy ! 
ye  must  wake  up  !  Fly  round  !  You  '11  have  lots  o'  chores  to  do 
this  mornin'  ! " 

"What's  the  matter  'th  my  breeches?"  snarled  Taddy.  "  Some 
plaguy  thing  's  stuck  to  'em  !  " 

It  was  Mrs.  Ducklow's  apron,  trailing  behind  him  at  half-mast, — 
at  sight  of  which,  and  of  Taddy  turning  round  and  round  to  look 
at  it,  like  a  kitten  in  pursuit  of  her  own  tail,  Ducklow  burst  into  a 
loud  laugh. 

five   years'   experience  we  never  had  a  point  disputed  nor 
an  hour's  argument  in  court. 

9th.    In  Case  of  Fire. 

The    Insurance,  being   payable    to    the    Trustee  for   the 
benefit  of  the  Bondholders,  is  applied  directly  to  the  pay- 

49 


"Wal,  wal,  mother!  you've  done  it!  You're  dressed  for 
meetin'  now,  Taddy  !  " 

"  I  do  declare  ! "  said  Mrs.  Ducklow,  mortified.  "  I  can't  for  the 
life  of  me  see  what  there  is  so  very  funny  about  it!"  And  she 
hastened  to  cut  short  Taddy's  trail  and  her  husband's  laughter  with 
a  pair  of  scissors. 

After  breakfast  the  Ducklows  set  off  in  the  one-horse  wagon, 
leaving  Taddy  to  take  care  of  the  house  during  their  absence. 
That  each  felt  secretly  uneasy  about  the  coupon  bonds  cannot  be 
denied  ;  but,  after  the  experiences  of  the  night  and  the  re- 
criminations of  the  morning,  they  were  unwilling  to  acknowledge 
their  fears    even   to    themselves,    and  much   less   to    each   other; 

so   the   precious    papers    were    left   hidden   under 
This  was    un- 
doubtedly  writ-    the    carpet. 

ten   with    refer-  "Safe    enough,    in    all    conscience!"    said    Mr. 

ence  to  Geo.   P. 
Bissell    &     Co.'s     Ducklow. 

Real    Estate  "Taddy!      Taddy!    now    mind!"    Mrs.    Duck- 

Bonds. 

low  repeated  for  the  twentieth  time.     "  Don't  you 

leave  the  house,  and  don't  you  touch  the  matches  nor  the  fire,  and 
don't   go  to  ransacking  the  rooms  neither.     You  wont,  will   ye?" 

"No'm,"  answered  Taddy,  also  for  the  twentieth  time, — 
secretly  resolved,  all  the  while,  to  take  advantage  of  their 
absence,  and  discover,  if  possible,  what  Mr.  Ducklow  brought 
home   last    night    in    his   boot-leg. 

The    Ducklows   had   intended   to   show   their   zeal   and   affec- 

ment  of  the  Bonds,  or  is  used  to  rebuild  on  the  property  ; 
payments  being  made  through  our  agents  upon  architect's 
certificates  of  work  actually  finished. 

ioth.     The  Bonds. 
The  Bonds  are  printed  under  our  direction,  on  Bond  paper 

50 


tion  by  making  Reuben  an  early  visit.  They  were  somewhat 
chagrined,  therefore,  to  find  several  neighbors  already  arrived 
to  pay  their  respects  to  the  returned  soldier.  The  fact  that 
Miss  Beswick  was  among  the  number  did  not  serve  greatly 
to   heighten  their   spirits. 

"  I've  as  good  a  notion  to  turn  round  and  go  straight 
home    again    as    ever    I    had    to    eat!"    muttered    Mrs.    Ducklow. 

"  It's  too  late  now,"  said  her  husband,  advancing  with  a 
show  of  confidence  and  cordiality  he  did  not  feel.  "  Wal, 
Reuben!  glad  to  see  ye!  glad  to  see  ye!  This  is  a  joyful 
day  I  scurce  ever  expected  to  see  !  Why,  ye  don't  look  so 
sick    as    I    thought   ye   would  !     Does   he,    mother  ?  " 

"  Dear   me  ! "    said    Mrs.    Ducklow,   her  woman's    nature,    and 

perhaps   her   old  motherly   feelings   for  their  adopted  son    deeply 

moved    by   the    sight  of   his    changed    and  wasted       Geo.  P.  Bissell 

aspect.      "  I'd  no    idee    he    could    be    so  very,  so  °"  ^  ave_ 

r  J  twenty-five 

very   pale    and    thin  !     Had   you,   Sophrony  ? "  years    managed 

..t      j       '.i  T...T.U       ~-u»"  'j    »i.„    their   business 

I     don  t    know    what    I    thought,       said    the       .  , 

with    such    pru- 

young   wife,    standing   by,    watching   her    returned    dence  and   cau- 

,  VL   ,     ,  v  j      ..,      ..  tion  that  no  pan- 

volunteer  with  features  surcharged  with  emotion, —    .     .  -.       . 

ics  have  affected 

deep   suffering  and  sympathy,  suffused  and    lighted    them. 

up   by  love  and  joy.      "I  only   know   I  have  him   now!     He   has 

come   home!    He    shall    never   leave    me    again, —  never!" 

"  But  wasn't  it  terrible  to  see  him  brought  home  so  ? " 
whispered    Mrs.  Ducklow. 

furnished  by  ourselves,  in  sums  of  $1,000  each,  having 
coupons  attached,  which  are  payable  semi-annually  at  our 
office.  We  remit  for  the  coupons  when  paid,  and  also  for 
the  Bond  at  maturity  when  paid,  by  New  York  check,  with- 
out charge  to  persons  who  reside  out  of  Hartford,  or  in 

5i 


"  Yes,  it  was  !  But,  oh,  I  was  so  thankful  !  I  felt  the 
worst  was  over ;  and  I  had  him  again  !  I  can  nurse  him 
now.  He  is  no  longer  hundreds  of  miles  away,  among  strangers, 
where  I  cannot  go  to  him, — though  I  should  have  gone  long 
ago,  as  you  know,  if  I  could  have  raised  the  means,  and  if 
it    hadn't    been    for   the    children." 

"  I — I — Mr.    Ducklow   would  have    tried    to    help   you    to    the 

means,    and    I    would   have  taken  the  children,  if  we  had  thought 

it   best   for  you  to  go,"   said  Mrs.    Ducklow.     "  But   you  see  now 

it  wasn't  best,  don't  you?" 
It    is     a    good 
rule  to  invest  "Whether    it    was    or    not,    I    don't  complain. 

money   through    j   am   too  happy  to-day   to   complain   of  anything. 

old    established, 

experienced, and    To  see   him  home  again!     But   I    have  dreamt    so 

conservative    often    that   he    came    home,    and  woke    up    to  find 

Bankers.      The 

firm  of  Geo.  P.    ^  was    onbr  a    dream,  I  m    half  afraid   now   to   be 

Bissell  &  Co.  is    as   happy  as  I  might   be." 

such  a  house. 

"  Be    as    happy    as    you    please,    Sophrony ! 

spoke  up  Reuben,  who  had  seemed  to  be  listening  to  Mr.  Duck- 
low's  apologies  for  not  coming  over  the  night  before,  while  he 
was  in  reality  straining  his  ear  to  catch  every  word  his  wife 
was  saying.  He  was  dressed  in  his  uniform  and  lying  on  a 
lounge,  supported  by  pillows.  "  I'm  just  where  I  want  to  be, 
of  all  places  in  this  world — or  the  next  world  either,  I  may  say ; 
for  I  can't  conceive  of  any  greater  heaven  than  I'm  in  now. 
I'm  going   to   get  well,  too,   spite   of  the  doctors.     Coming  home 


sterling  exchange  if  the  Bonds  are  owned  in  Europe.  The 
name  of  the  owner  of  the  Bond  can  be  stamped  on  the 
Bond  by  a  stamp  kept  at  our  office,  thus  making  it  a  regis- 
tered security,  good  only  to  the  owner,  and  perfectly  safe  to 
keep  in  the  house.     If  the  name  of  the  owner  is  not  stamped 


is  the  best  medicine  for  a  fellow  in  my  condition.  Not  bad  to 
take,  either !  Stand  here,  Ruby,  my  boy,  and  let  your  daddy  look 
at  yc  again  !  To  think  that's  my  Ruby,  Pa  Ducklow  !  Why,  he 
was  a  mere  baby  when  I  went  away  ! " 

"  Reuben  !  Reuben  !  "  entreated  the  young  wife,  leaning  over 
him,  "you  are  talking  too  much.  You  promised  me  you  wouldn't, 
j'ou  know." 

"  Well,  well,  I  wont.  But  when  a  fellow's  heart  is  chock- 
full,    it's    hard    to    shut    down    on    it    sometimes.       Geo<  p.  Bissell 

Don't  look  so,  friends,  as  if  ye  pitied  me  !     I  a'n't    &    Co-    never 

speculate     and 
to  be    pitied.      I'll    bet    there  isn't  one  of  ye  half   never  take  spec- 

as  happy  as  I  am  at  this  minute!"  ulative  orders 

for  stocks  "  on  a 
"  Here  s     Miss    Beswick,    Mother    Ducklow,      margin."    They 

said    Sophronia.     "  Haven't  you  noticed  her?"  do  a  steady,  old- 

fashioned,     safe 
"Oh  !  how  do   you  do,  Miss  Beswick?  '    said    Banking   busi- 

Mrs.  Ducklow,  appearing  surprised.  ness. 

"  Tryin'  to  keep  out  o'  the  way,  and  make  myself  useful," 
said  Miss  Beswick,  stiffly. 

"  I  don't  know  what  I  should  do  without  her,"  said  Sophronia, 
as  the  tall  spinster  disappeared.  "  She  took  right  hold  and  help- 
ed me  last  night;  then  she  came  in  again  the  first  thing  this 
morning.  'Go  to  your  husband,' says  she  to  me  ;  'don't  leave 
him  a  minute.  I  know  he  don't  want  ye  out  of  his  sight, — and 
you  don't  want  to  be  out  of  his  sight,  either  ;  so  you  'tend  right 
to    him,    and  I'll  do  the   work.     There'll    be  enough  folks  comin' 

on,  then  the  title  passes  by  delivery  like  a  Railroad  or  Gov- 
ernment Bond. 

nth.    Mortgages  are  Safe. 
These  are  in  all  cases  first  mortgages,  and  an  experience 
of    twenty-five    years     has  convinced  us  that  there  is   no 

53 


in  to  hender,  but  I've  come  in  to  help,'  says  she.  And  here 
she's  been  ever  since,  hard  at  work  ;  for  when  Miss  Beswick 
says  a  thing,  there's  no  use  opposing  her, —  that  you  know, 
Mother   Ducklow." 

"Yes,  she  likes  to  have  her  own  way,"  said  Mrs.  Ducklow, 
with  a  peculiar  pucker. 

Geo.  P.  Bissell  "  It    seems    she    called    at    the    door  last  night 

&    Co.    invite    to  teii   you  Reuben  had  come." 
correspondence 
from  investors  "Called    at    the    door!      Didn't    she    tell    you 

with    small    she    came    in  and  made  us  a  visit?" 

means,    as  well 

as   from  those  "No,  indeed!     Did  she?" 

having    large  Mrs.   Ducklow  concluded  that  if  nothing  had 

sums.    A  person 

having  only  one    been  said  on  that  subject,  she  might  as  well  remain 

thousand  dollars    silent  ;   so  she  merely  remarked  : 

will   receive  the 

same     attention  "  Oh,  yes,  a  visit,— for  her.     She  a'n't  no  great 

that  is  given    hand  to  make  long  stops,  ye  know." 

to    one     having  t 

ten    times    that  '  Only  when    she  s    needed,     said    Sophronia  ; 

amount.  "  then  she  never  thinks    of   going  as  long  as    she 

sees  anything    to  do.     Reuben,  you  mustn't  talk,  Reuben  !  " 

"  I  was  saying,"  remarked  Neighbor  Jepworth,  "  it'll  be  too 
bad    now,  if  you  have  to  give  up  this  place  ;  but  he " 

Sophronia,  unseen  by  her  husband,  made  anxious  signs  to 
the  speaker  to  avoid  so  distressing  a  topic  in  the  invalid's 
presence. 

"  We    are    not   going    to    worry  about    that,"  she  hastened  to 

investment  so  safe  as  a  good  first  mortgage  on  good  city 
property,  valuing  the  land  moderately  and  lending  a  less 
amount  than  the  land  alone  is  worth.  No  mismanagement 
can  affect  such  a  loan.  Railroad  Bonds  may  be  injured  by 
the  mismanagement  of  the  Directors  of  the  Road.     Town, 

54 


say.  "  After  we  have  been  favored  by  Providence  so  far,  and 
in  such  extraordinary  ways,  we  think  we  can  afford  to  trust 
still  further.  We  have  all  we  can  think  of  and  attend  to  to- 
day ;  and    the   future   will  take  care  of  itself." 

"  That's    right  ;    that's    the   way   to    talk  ! "    said  Mr.  Ducklow. 

"  Providence  '11     take    care     of    ye,    you   may    be 
sure  i  ■•  Another  proof 

of  the    sound 
"  I    should    think    you     might     get    Ditson     to    common  sense  of 

renew  the  mortgage,"  observed  Neighbor  Ferring.       e   aut    or  ° 

this  story.    Geo. 
"He    can't    be    hard   on    you,  under    such   circum-    p.  Bissell&Co.'s 

stances.     And  he    can't   be   so  foolish    as    to  want    8  Per  cent"  Real 

Estate     Bonds 

the    money.      There's    no    security    like    real   are  based  on  first 

estate.      If    I    had    money    to    invest,    I    wouldn't    class>     carefully 

selected,   im- 
put    it    into    anything    else."  proved  City  Real 

"Nor   I,"    said    Mr.    Ducklow;     "  nothin'    like    Estate :  the  best 

security    on 
real    estate  !  " — with    an    expression    of    profound    which  to  lend. 

conviction. 

"What  do  you  think  of  Gov'ment  bonds?"  asked  Neighbor 
Jepworth. 

"  I  don't  know."  Mr.  Ducklow  scratched  his  cheek  and 
wrinkled  his  brow  with  an  expression  of  thoughtfulness  and 
candor.  "  I  haven't  given  much  attention  to  the  subject.  It 
may  be  a  patriotic  duty  to  lend  to  Gov'ment,  if  one  has  the 
funds    to    spare." 

"Yes,"   said   Jepworth,   warming.      "When   we   consider   that 


county,  and  city  Bonds  may  be  repudiated  by  a  vote  of  the 
people,  as  has  often  been  done  when  the  people  get  tired  of 
paying  taxes  to  keep  up  the  interest.  The  goodness  of  Bank 
Stocks  and  manufacturing  Stocks,  and  all  other  Stocks,  in 
most  cases  depends  upon   the  management  of  one  or  more 

55 


every  dollar   we  lend   to    Government    goes   to    carry  on  the    war, 

and    put   down    this    cursed    Rebellion " 

"  And  to  pay  off  the  soldiers,"  put  in  Reuben,  raising  him- 
self on  his  elbow.  "  Nobody  knows  the  sufferings  of  soldiers 
and  soldiers'  families  on  account  of  the  Government's  inability 
to  pay  them  off.  If  that  subject  was  felt  and  understood  as 
some  I  know  feel  and  understand  it,  I'm  sure  every  right- 
minded  man  with  fifty  dollars  to  spare  would  make  haste  to 
lend  it  to  Uncle  Sam.  I  tell  ye,  I  got  a  little  excited  on  this 
subject,  coming  on  in  the  cars.  I  heard  a  gentleman  complain- 
ing of  the  Government  for  not  paying  off  its  crcd- 
He  might  have 
deposited  it  with    it°rs  ',     he    didn't    say    so    much    about    the    sol- 

Geo.    P.    Bissell    djerSi    but   he    thought   contractors   ought    to  have 

&  Co.,    on    call, 

and  have  drawn    their   claims    settled    at    once.     At    the    same    time 

some  interest  on  he  said  he  had  had  twenty  thousand  dollars  lving 
it. 

idle    for  two  months,  not  knowing  what  to  do  with 

it,  but  had  finally  concluded  to  invest  it  in  railroad  stock.     '  Have 

ye  any  Government  stock  ?  '  said  his  friend.     '  Not  a  dollar's  worth,' 

said  he  ;   '  I'm  afraid  of  it.'     Sick  as  I  was,  I  couldn't  lie  and  hear 

that.     '  And  do  you  know  the   reason,'  said  I,   '  why  Government 

cannot  pay  off  its  creditors?     I'll  tell   ye,'  said  I.     'It  is  because 

it  hasn't   the    money.      And    it   hasn't    the    money   because   such 

men  as  you,  who   have  your  thousands  lying  idle,  refuse  to  lend 

to  your   country,  because   you   are   afraid.     That's    the   extent   of 

your   patriotism  :     you   are   afraid  !      What    do    you   think   of    us 

who  have  gone   into    the   war,  and   been    willing    to   risk   every- 

men  who  control  them ;  but  if  you  have  a  first  mortgage  on 
a  man's  store  or  dwelling-house  for  an  amount  less  than  the 
land  is  worth  under  the  hammer,  he  may  fail  and  go  to 
wreck  generally,  but  the  property  remains,  and  somebody 

56 


thing, — not   only   our   business   and    our    property,    but   life    and 

limb?     I've  ruined  myself  personally,'  said    I,    'lost    my  property 

and    my   health,  to    be   of  service    to   my  country.     I  don't    regret 

it  ;    though    I    should    never    recover,    I    shall    not    regret  it.      I'm 

a   tolerably    patient,  philosophical    sort    of  fellow ;     but    I    haven't 

patience  nor  philosophy  enough  to  hear  such  men  as  you  abuse  the 

Government  for  not  doing  what  it's  your  duty  to  assist  it  in  doing." 

"  Good    for  you,     Reuben  ! "     exclaimed     Mr.    Ducklow,    who 

really  felt   obliged  to    the    young  soldier  for  placing  the   previous 

day's   investment   in   such  a  strong  patriotic  light. 

("  I've    only  done    my  duty  to  Gov'ment,  let    Miss       The  Eight  per 
J  y  J  cent.     Bonds, 

Beswick   say   what    she  will,"  thought   he.)     "  You  heretofore  men- 
wound    him     up,    I    truess.      Fact,    you    state    the  tioned-  and  sold 
r                                              '  by  Geo.  P.    Bis- 
case    so    well,    Reuben,    I    believe    if    I    had    any  sel     &    Co.,    of 

funds    to    spare,    I    shouldn't    hesitate    a    minute,    Hartford, Conn., 

cannot  be  repu- 
but   go    right  off  and  invest    in  Gov'ment  bonds."    diated,likeCoun- 

"  That   might    be    well    enough,    if    you    did    it    ty     or    s  * a  l  e 

Bonds,  being  se- 
from    a    sense    of    duty,"    said    Neighbor    Ferring,    CUred    by    First 

who  was    something   of  a  croaker,  and    not    much    Mortgage  on  im- 
proved   City 
of  a  patriot.      "  But  as  an  investment,  't  would  be    pr0perty    worth 

the  wust  ye  could  make."  double  or  treble 

the      amount 
"Ye  think  so?"  said  Mr.  Ducklow,  with  quick    loaned. 

alarm. 

"  Certainly,"    said    Ferring.      "  Gov'ment  '11    repudiate.      It  '11 


will  take  it  and  keep  the  interest  and  principal  good.  In 
these  days  of  mismanagement  it  is  well  to  have  money 
invested  where  its  safety  does  not  depend  upon  any  man's 
ability  or  integrity,  or  upon  a  vote  of  disaffected,  irresponsi- 
ble citizens.  We  claim  this  entire  safety  for  our  eight  per 
cent,  first  mortgage  Bonds. 

57 


have  to  repudiate.     This  enormous  debt  never  can  be  paid  !     Your 

interest  in  gold  is  a  temptation,  just  now  ;  but  that  wont  be  paid 

much    longer,    and    then    yer  bonds  wont  be  wuth  any  more  'n  so 

much  brown  paper." 

"  I — I  don't    think    so,"    said    Mr.    Ducklow,  who  nevertheless 

turned     pale, — Ferring    gave     his    opinion     in     such     a    positive 

oracular  way.     "  I    don't   believe    I  should    be    frightened,  even  if 

I    had  Gov'ment    securities  in  my  hands.     I    wish  I  had  ;    I    really 

wish  I  had  a  good  lot  o'  them  bonds!     Don't   you,  Jepworth?" 

"  They're  mighty  resky  things    to   have    in  the 
Bring    your    ,  ,  ...  ,         ,,  , .     .    T 

r*  _  house,   that  s    one    obiection    to    em,     replied    lep- 

Government  J  r  •>    r 

Bonds    to    Geo.    worth,   thus    adding   breath    to    Ducklow's    already 

P.  Bissell  &  Co.,    ,  .     ,,     ,     , 

.  ,  kindled  alarm, 

and     exchange 

them  for  8   per  "That's    so!"  said   Ferring,  emphatically.      "I 

cent.    Real     Es-  ,    .        .  ,  .  . 

_,         .         read   in  the  papers  almost  everv  dav  about  some- 
tate      Bonds.  ^   i  : 

Theyare"handy    body's  having  his  cowpon   bonds  stole." 

to    have    in    the  <■  t       1        u     i  r-jrc         >•      «_  j 

,  ,,  I    should    be   more  afraid  of  fires,     observed 

house. 

Jepworth. 
"  But    there's    this    to    be    considered    in    favor  of  fires,"  said 
Reuben  :     "  if  the  bonds    burn    up,   they   wont   have    to    be    paid. 

The  Bonds  to    ^°  wnat  is  your  loss  is  the  country's  gain." 
which  attention  "  But  isn't  there  any — isn't  there  any  remedy?'' 

has   been   called     .  ...... 

in  the   above    imllurcd  Ducklow,  scarcely  able  to  sit  in  his  chair. 

notes  are  Regis-  "There's  no    risk    at    all,   if   a  man   subscribes 

tered    Coupon  .  

Bonds     safe    to  registered    bonds,      said     Reuben.      '    1  hey  re 

hold,   and    easy    like  railroad    stock.       Rut    if    you    have    the    cou- 
to  collect. 

pons,  you  must  look  out    for   them. 

"Why     didn't    I    buy    registered     bonds?"    said    Ducklow     to 

himself.      His    chair   was   becoming    like    a     keg     of    gunpowder 

with    a  lighted  fuse  inserted.     The    familiar  style    of  expression — 

"  Your   bonds,"  "your   loss,"    "you    must    look    out," — used     by 

Ferring   and    Reuben,  was    not    calculated    to    relieve    his    embar- 

5S 


rassment.  He  fancied  that  he  was  suspected  of  owning  Government 
securities,  and  that  these  careless  phrases  were  based  upon  that 
surmise.     He    could  keep  his  scat  no  longer. 

"  Wal,  Reuben!  I  must  be  drivin'  home,  I  s'pose.  Left 
everything  at  loose  ends.  I  was  in  such  a  hurry  to  see  ye,  and 
find    out    if  there's  anything  I  can  do  for  ye." 

"As  for  that,"  said  Reuben,  "I've  got  a  trunk  over  in  town 
which  couldn't  be  brought  last  night.  If  you  will  have  that  sent 
for,  I'll  be  obliged  to  ye." 

"  Sartin  !  sartin!"  And  Mr.  Ducklow  drove  away,  greatly  to 
the  relief  of  Mrs.  Ducklow,  who,  listening  to  the  alarming  con- 
versation, and  remembering  the  bonds  under  the  carpet,  and  the 
matches  in  the  pantry,  and  Taddy's  propensity  to  mischief,  felt 
herself  (as    she  afterwards  confessed)  "jest  ready  to  fly." 


Before  looking  at  Part  II.  read  what  Geo.  P.  Bissell 
&  Co.  have  stated  about  their  Coupon  Bonds,  at  the  foot 
of  each  page  of  this  capital  story  by  J.  T.  Trowbridge,  for 
your  benefit  and  for  the  very  purpose  of  showing  how  to 
avoid  the  trouble  experienced  by  the  Ducklow  family  and 
at  the  same  time  to  safely  and  profitably  invest. 


59 


PART    II. 

Mr.   Ducklow  had    scarcely   turned    the    corner    of  the    street, 

when,  looking   anxiously  in    the    direction    of  his    homestead,    he 

Grammatically    saw  a  column  of  smoke.     It  was  directly  over  the 
it    would     have 
been   better   for    sPot    where    he    knew   his    house    to    be    situated. 

Mr.  Ducklow  to    He  guessed  at  a  glance  what  had  happened.     The 

have  said"Those 

Bonds!   Those    frightful    catastrophe    he    foreboded    had    befallen. 

Bonds!"    Finan-    Taddy  had  set  the  house    afire  ! 

cially  it  is  better 

to  receive  8  per  "  Them    bonds  !    them   bonds  !      he  exclaimed, 

cent,  than  6  per    distractedly.     He    did    not    think    so  much    of   the 

cent,    or    4    per  . 

cent  on  your  in-    house:     house     and     furniture    were    insured;    it 

vestments.  they    were    burned,    the    inconvenience    would    be 

great  indeed,  and  at  any  other  time  the  thought  cf  such  an  event 

would  have  been  a  sufficient    cause    for  trepidation, — but  now  his 

chief,  his  only  anxiety  was    the    bonds.     They   were   not    insured. 

As   everybody    The}'    would    be    a    dead    loss.      And    what    added 

insures   in   t  h  e    sharpness    to    his    pangs,   they   would    be    a    loss 

solid,    reliable 

Hartford    Com-    which    he    must    keep    a    secret,    as   he   had    kept 

pames,  so  every-    their  existence    a    secret, — a    loss  which    he   could 
body  should  in- 
vest in  the  solid     not  confess,  and   of  which  he  could  not  complain. 

reliable  eight  per    Hati    he    not    just    given    his    neighbors  to  under- 

cent.Real  Estate 

Bonds  gotten  up    stand  that    he  held    no    such    property?      And  his 

expressly  for  and    wjfe — was    she    not    at    that    very    moment,    if    not 

sold  only  by  Geo. 

P.  Bissell  &  Co.     serving    up    a  lie  on    the  subject,  at    least    paring 

Bankers,    Hart-    the  truth  very  thin  indeed? 
ford,  Conn. 

"  A    man    would     think,"     observed     Ferring, 

"  that  Ducklow   had    some   o'  them   bonds  on  his  hands,   and  got 

6o 


scaret,  he  took  such  a  sudden  start.  .He  has,  hasn't  he,  Mrs. 
Ducklow?  " 

"Has  what?"  said  Mrs.  Ducklow,  pretending  ignorance. 

"  Some  o'  them  cowpon  bonds.  I  ruther  guess  he's  got 
some." 

"You  mean  Gov'ment  bonds?     Ducklow   got  some?      'Ta'n't 

at  all  likely  he'd    spec'late  in    them  without  saying  something    to 

me  about    it !     No,    he    couldn't    have    any  without       „       „  „. 

:  Geo.  P.  Bissell 

my  knowing   it,    I'm   sure  !  "  &  Co.  are  Bank- 

Hi  ,  .  11,11         ers    having    the 

ow  demure,  how    innocent    she  looked,  ply-  .  , 

experience   of   a 

ing  her  knitting-needles,  and  stopping  to  take  up    quarter  of  a  cen- 

a  stitch!     How  little  at  that  moment  she  knew  of     U.T',     .ur'ng 

which  time  they 

Ducklow's  trouble,  and  its  terrible  cause  !  have  never  met 

Ducklow's  first  impulse  was  to    drive  on  and    W1        ,anyL 

verses,  but  have 

endeavor     at     all    hazards    to     snatch    the    bonds    always   stood 
from    the    flames.      His    next    was    to    return    and      rm" 
alarm  his  neighbors,  and  obtain    their  assistance.     But  a  minute's 
delay  might  be  fatal;    so    he  drove    on,  screaming    "Fire!    fire!" 
at  the  top  of  his  voice. 

But  the  old  mare  was  a  slow-footed  animal,  and  Ducklow 
had  no  whip.     He  reached  forward  and  struck  her  with  the  reins. 

"Get  up!  get  up! — Fire!  fire!"  screamed  Ducklow.  "Oh, 
them  bonds  !  them  bonds !  Why  didn't  I  give  the*  money  to 
Reuben  ?     Fire  !  fire  !  fire  !  " 


12th.    We  take  these  Bonds  Ourselves. 

We  do  not  sell  these  Bonds  on  Commission.  In  all  cases, 
as  soon  as  the  papers  are  made  out  and  approved,  we  give 
our  check  for  the  Bonds,  and  they  become  our  property. 
We  are  willing  to  put  our  own  money  into  them,  and  we  never 
sell  a  Bond  which  we  would  not  willingly  hold  ourselves. 

61 


By  dint  of  screaming  and  slapping,  he  urged  her  from  a  trot 
into  a  gallop,  which  was  scarcely  an  improvement  as  to  speed, 
and  certainly  not  as  to  grace.  It  was  like  the  gallop  of  an  old 
cow.     "Why  don't  ye  go  'long!"  he  cried  despairingly. 

Slap,  slap  !  He  knocked  his  own  hat  off  with  the  loose  ends 
of  the  reins.  It  fell  under  the  wheels.  He  cast  one  look  behind, 
to  satisfy  himself  that  it  had  been  very  thoroughly  run  over  and 
crushed  into  the  dirt,  and  left  it  to  its  fate. 

Slap,  slap  !  "  Fire  !  fire  !  "  Canter,  canter,  canter  !  Neighbors 
looked  out  of  their  windows,  and,  recognizing  Ducklow's  wagon 
and  old  mare  in  such  an  astonishing  plight,  and  Ducklow  himself, 
without  his  hat,  rising  from  his  seat,  and  reaching  forward  in  wild 
attitudes,  brandishing  the  reins,  at  the  same  time  rending  the 
air  with  yells,  thought  he  must  be  insane. 

Never    stop  He    drove    to    the  top    of    the    hill,  and    look- 

short  of   or  go    jng    beyond,    in    expectation  of  seeing    his    house 
beyond  the  office 
of  Geo.   P.  Bis-    wrapped    in    flames,    discovered     that    the    smoke 

sell    &    Co.    for    proceeded   from  a  brush-heap  which    his    neighbor 

investments.     If 

they  have  not  on    Atkins  was  burning  in  a  field  near  by. 

hand  what  you  fhe  revulsion  of  feeling    that   ensued  was  al- 

want,   they    can 

get  it  for  you  at    most    to°    much    for   the   excitable  Ducklow.     His 

short  notice.  strength  went  out  of  him.     For  a  little  while  there 

seemed    to  be    nothing    left    of   him    but  tremor    and  cold    sweat. 

13th.    Who  Invest  in  these  Bonds? 

We  sell  them  to  our  most  cautious  business  men  and 
capitalists.  Of  course  in  a  public  circular  like  this  we  can- 
not give  the  names  of  buyers,  but  we  can  say  in  general 
terms  that  there  is  hardly  a  man  of  means  in  Hartford  who 
does  not  own  more  or  less  of  them.  Many  of  our  largest 
capitalists  and   shrewdest  men  have  sold  their  Governments 

62 


Difficult  as  it  had  been  to  get  the  old  mare  in  motion,  it  was 
now  even  more  difficult  to  stop  her. 

"Why  !  what  has  got  into  Ducklow's  old  mare?  She's  running 
away  with  him  !  Who  ever  heard  of  such  a  thing  !  "  And  Atkins, 
watching  the  ludicrous  spectacle  from  his  field,  became  almost 
as  weak  from  laughter  as  Ducklow  was  from  the  effects  of 
fear. 

At    length    Ducklow    succeeded    in    checking    the     old    mare's 

speed,  and    in    turning   her   about.     It    was    neces-       Geo.  P.  Bissell 

,.         uir        i-it         -o       »i  •        *•  &   Co.    have    for 

sarv     to     drive    back     for   his   hat.      By    this     time 

twenty-five 

he    could    hear    a    chorus    of    shouts,     "  Fire  !    fire !    years    managed 

fire!"    over  the    hill.     He    had    aroused    the  neigh-    their   business 

with    such    pru- 

bors    as    he     passed,    and     now     they    were     flock-    dence   and   cau- 

ing     to     extinguish    the    flames.  tion  that  no  pan- 

ics  have  affected 
"A  false  alarm!    a   false  alarm!"    said    Duck-    them. 

low,    looking  marvellously    sheepish  as    he    met   them.     "  Nothing 

but  Atkins's   brush-heap  !  " 

"  Seems  to  me  you  ought  to  have  found  that  out  'fore  you 
raised  all  creation  with  your  yells!  "said  one  hyperbolical  fellow. 
"  You  looked  like  the  Flying  Dutchman  !  This  your  hat  ?  I 
thought  'twas  a  dead  cat  in  the  road.  No  fire!  no  fire!" — 
turning   back    to  his    comrades, — "  only  one    of  Ducklow's  jokes." 

Nevertheless,  two    or  three    boys   there    were   who  would  not 

and  bought  these  eight  per  cent.  Bonds  Our  most  cautious 
and  sagacious  business  men  are  our  best  customers,  and  we 
sell  them  in  large  amounts  all  through  New  England,  New 
York,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and  as  far  west  as  Louisville, 
Kentucky.  A  list  of  the  buyers  taken  from  our  books  would 
be  a  list  of  the  most  prudent  and  cautious  business  men  in 
this  city,  New  England,  and  New  York  State.  (See  page  66.) 

63 


be  convinced,  but  continued  to  leap  up,  swing  their  caps,  and 
scream  "Fire!"  against  all  remonstrance.  Ducklow  did  not 
wait  to  enter  into  explanations,  but,  turning  the  old  mare  about 
again,  drove  home  amid  the  laughter  of  the  bystanders  and  the 
screams  of  the  misguided  youngsters.  As  he  approached  the 
house,  he    met    Taddy    rushing   wildly  up    the    street. 

It    is    a   good  "  Thaddeus  !  Thaddeus  !  where  ye  goin',  Thad- 

r  u  le    to     invest      .  -,  ». 

deus? 
money    through 

old-established,  "Goin'    to    the    fire!"    cried   Taddy. 

experienced, and  "There    isn't    any  fire,  boy!" 

conservative 

Bankers.     The  "  Yes,  there   is!    Didn't   ye  hear  'em?    They've 

firm  of   Geo.  P.  b(?en        mn,   Hke   f         „ 

Bissell   &  Co.  is  '  ' 

such  a  house.  "It's    nothin'    but    Atkins's    brush." 

"That  all?"  And  Taddy  appeared  very  much  disappointed. 
"  I  thought  there  was  goin'  to  be  some  fun.  I  wonder  who  was 
such    a   fool  as  to  yell  fire  jest  for    a    darned  old  brush  heap!" 

Ducklow  did    not    inform    him. 

"I've  got  to  drive  over  to  town  and  git  Reuben's  trunk. 
You    stand   by   the   mare   while    I    step   in   and   brush   my   hat." 


Evansville,   Ind., 

though  comparatively  a  young  city  (the  first  house  having 
been  built  in  1812),  is  a  well  founded  one,  the  site  having 
been  selected  with  reference  to  its  availability  for  commerce, 
and  as  being  one  well  adapted  as  a  centre  of  trade  for  the 
surrounding  country. 

It  lies  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Ohio  river,  with  a  river 
frontage  of  more  than  two  miles,  and  is  the  supply  depot  for 
a  large  section  of  very  fertile  country. 

It  is  a  "  Port  of  Entry,"  having  a  United   States  Custom 

64 


Instead  of  applying  himself  at  once  to  the  restoration  of 
his  beaver,  he  hastened  to  the  sitting-room,  to  sec  that  the 
bonds   were   safe. 

"Heavens   and    'arth !  "    exclaimed    Ducklow. 

The    chair,    which    had    been     carefully    planted     in    the     spot 

where    they  were    concealed,   had    been    removed.     Three    or  four 

tacks  had  been  taken  out,  and  the  carpet  pushed       q60-  p.  Bissell 

from  the  wall.     There    was    straw  scattered  about.    &    Co.     never 

speculate     and 
Evidently    Taddy    had    been    interrupted,    in    the    never  take  spec- 

midst    of    his     ransacking,    by    the    alarm     of    fire,    ulative  orders 

for  stocks  "  on  a 
Indeed,    he     was     even     now     creeping     into    the    margin."    They 

house    to    see    what    notice     Ducklow    would    take    do  a  steady,  old- 
fashioned,  safe 
of   these   evidences   of  his  mischief.  banking   busi- 

In    great    trepidation    the  farmer  thrust   in    his    ness. 

hand  here  and    there,    and    groped,   until   he  found   the    envelope 

precisely  where    it    had    been    placed    the    night   before,  with  the 

tape    tied    around    it,    which    his    wife    had    put     on    to    prevent 

its    contents    from    slipping    out    and    losing    themselves.      Great 

was    the    joy    of  Ducklow.      Great    also    was    the    wrath    of   him 

when    he  turned    and   discovered    Taddy. 


House,  and  occupies  the  same  position  toward  Indiana  that 
Cincinnati  does  to  Ohio,  being  the  river  town  of  the  State  ; 
and  controlling  as  it  does  the  trade  on  both  sides  of  the  river, 
it  must  always  be  a  bright,  active,  and  busy  city. 

Besides  being  a  centre  for  a  great  amount  of  trade  the 
city  is  largely  interested  in  iron  manufacture,  blast  furnaces, 
rolling-mills,  store  works,  etc.,  etc.,  and  also  has  become  a 
centre  for  cotton  manufacture,  and  does  a  large  business  in 
leaf  tobacco.     Population  about  37,000. 

65 


"Didn't    I    tell  you    to    stand    by  the  old  mare?" 

"  She  wont  stir,"  said  Taddy,  shrinking  away  again. 

"Come  here!"  And  Ducklow  grasped  him  by  the  collar. 
"What  have  you  been  doin' ?     Look   at  that!" 

"'Twa'n't  me!" — beginning  to  whimper  and  ram  his  fists  into 
his  eyes. 

"Don't    tell    me     'twa'n't    you!"      Ducklow    shook    him     till 

his   teeth    chattered.      "What    was    vou    pullin'    up 
Geo.  P.  Bissell 
&  Co.  invite    the  carpet    for?" 

correspondence  "Lost    a    marble!"    snivelled    Taddv. 

from    investors 

with    small  "Lost    a   marble!      Ye    didn't    lose    it    under 

means  as  well  as    the  carpet,  did  ye?     Look  at  all   that  straw  pulled 
from  those  hav- 
ing large  sums,    out  !"— shaking  him    again. 

A  person  having  "Didn't    know  but    it  might  'a'  got  under    the 

only    one    thou- 
sand dollars  will    carpet,     marbles    roll     so,"     explained     Taddy,     as 

receive  the  same    soon    as    ]ie    COuld  get  his  breath, 
attention  that  is  ,, 

given   to    one  "  Wal,    sir!  Ducklow    administered     a     re- 

having  ten  times    sounding    box    on  his  ear;   "don't    you  do  such  a 
that  amount. 

thing  again,  if  you  lose  a  million  marbles  ! 

"  Ha'n't  got  a  million!"  Taddy  wept,  rubbing  his  cheek. 
"  Ha'n't  got  but  four!     Wont  ye  buy  me  some  to-day?" 

"  Go  to  that  marc,  and  don't  you  leave  her  again  till  I  come, 
or  I'll    marble  ye  in  a  way  you  wont  like  !" 

Understanding  by  this  somewhat  equivocal  form  of  expression 


14th.     Loans  are  in  Several  Cities. 

We  make  these  loans  in  Indianapolis,  Fort  Wayne,  Terre 
Haute,  Evansville,  Des  Moines,  Grand  Rapids,  and  several 
other  Western  cities,  selecting  only  thriving,  prosperous 
places,  and  taking  only  the  best  property.  As  we  generally 
have  an   assortment  of  from  one  hundred  thousand  to   two 

66 


that   flagellation    was    threatened,  Taddy  obeyed,  still    feeling   his 

smarting  and  burning  ear. 

Ducklow  was  in  trouble.     What  should  he  do  with  the  bonds? 

The  floor  was    no  place    for  them,  after   what   had       Take  them  to 

happened  ;    and  he    remembered    too  well    the  ex-    Geo- p- Bisse11  & 

Co.,   of    course, 
perience    of   yesterday    to    think  for  a  moment    of   a  n  d    exchange 

carrying  them  about  his  person.    With  unreasonable    them   for  8  Per 

cent. Real  Estate 
impatience,  his  mind  reverted  to  Mrs.  Ducklow.       Bonds,   which 

"Why  a'n't  she  to  home?      These  women  are    would  Pa^  him 

better  and    give 
forever    a-gaddin'!     I  wish  Reuben's  trunk  was  in    njm  no   trouble 

Jericho  !  "  in  lookin&  after. 

Thinking  of  the  trunk  reminded  him  of  one  in  "the  garret, 
filled  with  old  papers  of  all  sorts — newspapers,  letters,  bills  of 
sale,  children's  writing-books, — accumulations  of  the  past  quarter 
of  a  century.  Neither  fire  nor  burglar  nor  ransacking  youngster 
had  ever  molested  those  ancient  records  during  all  those  five-and- 
twenty  years.     A  bright    thought  struck    him. 

"  I'll  slip  the  bonds  down  into  that  wuthless  heap  o'  rubbish, 
where  no  one  'u'd  ever  think  o'  lookin'  for  'em,  and  resk  'em." 

Having  assured  himself  that  Taddy  was  standing  by  the 
wagon,  he  paid  a  hasty  visit  to  the  trunk  in  the  garret,  and  con- 
cealed the  envelope,  still  bound  in  its  band  of  tape,  among  the 
papers.  He  then  drove  away,  giving  Taddy  a  final  charge  to 
beware  of  setting  anything  afire. 

He    had    driven    about    half   a    mile    when   he    met    a    pedler. 

hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  of  Bonds  actually  on 
hand  and  paid  for,  and  applications  for  as  much  more  dis- 
tributed through  various  localities,  we  can  divide  any  sum 
which  may  seek  investment  so  that  it  may  not  all  be  in  one 
place. 

67 


There  was  nothing    unusual  or   alarming  in    such  a  circumstance, 

surely;   but  as  Ducklow  kept  on  it  troubled  him. 

"He'll  stop  to  the  house  now,  most  likely,  and  want  to  trade. 

Findin'     nobody    but     Taddy,    there's    no    knowin'    what    he'll    be 

tempted  to  do.     But  I  a'n't    a-goin'  to    worry.     I'll    defy   anybody 

to    find  them  bonds.     Besides,  she  may  be  home  by  this  time.     I 

guess  she'll  hear  of   the  fire  alarm,  and  hurry  home  ;    it'll  be   jest 

„  „.       .    like    her.      She'll    be    there,    and — trade    with    the 
Geo.  P.  Bissell 

&  Co.  are  Bank-    pedler?"     thought     Ducklow,    uneasily.      Then    a 

ers   having    the    frightful  fancy  possessed  him.     "  She  has  threatened 

experience  of  a 

quarter  of  a  cen-    two    or   three    times    to    sell    that    old    trunkful    of 

ury'       unng  papers.      He'll  offer  a   big   price    for    'em,  and  ten 

which  time  they  r    r  °    v 

have  never  met  to    one    she'll    let   him    have    'em.      Why   didn't   I 

with    any    re-  think   Qn-t?     What  g  stupid  blunderbuss   I  be!" 
verses,  but  have 
always   stood  As    Ducklow    thought    of    it,    he    felt    almost 

rm*  certain    that    Mrs.    Ducklow    had    returned    home, 

and  that  she  was  bargaining  with  the  pedler  at  that  moment.  He 
fancied  her  smilingly  receiving  bright  tin-ware  for  the  old  papers  ; 
and  he  could  see  the  tape-tied  envelope  going  into  the  bag  with 
the  rest  !  The  result  was  that  he  turned  about  and  whipped  the 
old  mare  home  again  in  terrific  haste,  to  catch  the  departing 
pedler. 

Arriving,  he  found    the  house    as  he    had    left    it,  and    Taddy 
occupied  in  making  a  kite-frame. 


15th.     Loans  Carefully  Attended  to. 

We  keep  all  the  papers,  deeds,  etc.,  in  our  vault ;  and 
during  the  continuance  of  the  loan  we  look  after  its  various 
details  thoroughly.  We  keep  the  policies  renewed  in  good 
companies.  We  attend  to  the  payment  of  the  coupons,  and 
we  have  active  correspondents  in  each  of  the  cities,  who  at 

6S 


"Did  that  pedler  stop  here?" 

"I  ha'n't  seen  no  pedler." 

"And  ha'n't  yer  Ma  Ducklow  been  home,  neither?" 

"No." 

And  with  a  guilty  look,  Taddy  put  the  kite-frame  behind 
him. 

Ducklow  considered.  The  pedler  had  turned  up  a  cross- 
street  ;   he    would     probably    turn    down    again    and    stop    at    the 

house,  after  all  ;  Mrs.  Ducklow  might  by  that  time 

°  Geo.  P.  Bissell 

be  at  home  ;  then  the  sale  of  old  papers  would  be    &  Co.  have   for 

very  likely  to    take    place.       Ducklow    thought    of   twenty-five 

years     managed 
leaving    word     that     he     did     not     wish     any     old    their    business 

papers  in   the   house    to    be    sold,   but   feared    lest    Wlth  sucn  pru" 

dence    and    cau- 
the    request   might    excite    Taddy's    suspicions.  tion  that  no  pan- 

"  I   don't   see   no  way  but  for  me   to  take   the    ics  have  affected 

them, 
bonds  with  me,"  thought  he,  with  an  inward  groan. 

He  accordingly  went  to  the  garret,  took  the  envelope  out 
of  the  trunk,  and  placed  it  in  the  breast-pocket  of  his  over- 
coat, to  which  he  pinned  it,  to  prevent  it  by  an)'  chance  from 
getting  out.  He  used  six  large,  strong  pins  for  the  purpose, 
and    was    afterwards    sorry  he    did    not    use    seven. 

"There's  suthin'  losin'  out  of  yer  pocket!"  bawled  Taddy, 
as   he   was   once   more   mounting   the   wagon. 

Quick   as  lightning,  Ducklow  clapped  his  hand  to  his  breast. 

once  inform  us  if  any  change  is  made  adversely  affecting 
the  property.  This  part  of  our  business  is  admirably  sys- 
tematized. We  save  the  Bondholder  from  all  care,  thought, 
or  anxiety,  and  holders  of  our  eight  per  cent.  Bonds  may  be 
assured  that  their  interests  will  never  suffer  through  any 
neglect  of  ours. 

60 


In  doing  so,  he  loosed  his  hold  of  the  wagon-box  and  fell, 
raking    his    shin    badly   on    the    wheel. 

"  Vcr    side-pocket!    it's    one    o'    yer   mittens!"    said    Taddy. 

"You   rescal  !   how  you   scared   me!" 

Seating  himself  in  the  wagon,  Ducklow  gently  pulled  up 
his   trousers-leg   to    look    at    the    bruised    part. 

"Got  anything  in  yer  boot-leg  to-day,  Pa  Ducklow?"  asked 
Taddy,    innocently. 

It    is    a   good  "  Yes,    a   barked    shin  ! — all    on  your  account, 

rule    to    invest 

money    through  to°  !       ^°    an"    Put    tnat    straw    back,    and    fix    the 

old-established,  carpet;  and  don't  ye  let  me  hear  ye  speak  of 
experienced,  and 

conservative  m>'   boot-leg    again,    or    111    boot-leg  ye! 

Bankers.     The  So    saying,    Ducklow    departed. 

firm  of   Geo.  P.  .   .  .,.-,,,, 

Bissell  &  Co    is  Instead  of  repairing  the  mischief  he  had  done 

such  a  house.         in   the   sitting-room,   Taddy  devoted  his  time   and 

talents    to    the    more    interesting    occupation    of   constructing    his 

kite-frame.      He    worked    at   that   until    Mr.  Grantly,  the  minister, 

driving  by,  stopped  to  inquire  how  the  folks  were. 

"  A'n't  to  home;    may  I  ride?"    cried  Taddy,  all  in    a  breath. 

Mr.  Grantly  was  an  indulgent  old  gentleman,  fond  of  chil- 
dren; so  he  said,  "Jump  in;"  and  in  a  minute  Taddy  had 
scrambled    to    a  seat    by  his    side. 

And  now  occurred  a  circumstance  which  Ducklow  had  fore- 
seen.    The    alarm    of    fire    had    reached    Reuben's,    and    although 

16th.     Are   these   Loans   readily  Convertible   into 

Cash  ? 

Of  course  a  Bond  or  mortgage  is  never  quite  so  quickly 
convertible  into  money  as  a  Government  Bond  or  a  leading 
Railroad  Bond  ;  but  while  on  Government  and  Railroad 
Bonds  one  gets  a  low  rate  of  interest,  on  these  mortgages  he 

7° 


the  report  of  its  falseness  followed  immediately,  Mrs.  Ducklow's 
inflammable  fancy  was  so  kindled  by  it  that  she  could  find  no 
comfort   in    prolonging   her   visit. 

"Mr.  Ducklow '11  be  going  for  the  trunk,  and  I  must  go 
home  and  sec  to  things,  Taddy's  such  a  fellow  for  mischief! 
I    can    foot    it ;    I    sha'n't    mind    it." 

And    off    she    started,    walking    herself  out    of  breath    in    her 

anxiety.  Geo.  P.  Bissell 

She     reached    the    brow    of    the    hill     just    in    &    Co-    neve' 

speculate  and 
time  to  see  a  chaise  drive  away  from  her  own  never  take  spec- 
j  ulative    orders 

for  stocks  "on  a 
"  Who    can    that     be  ?       I    wonder     if     Taddy's    margin."     They 

there     to    guard    the    house!       If   anything    should    do  a  steady,  old- 
fashioned,     safe 
happen    to    them    bonds!"  banking   busi- 

Out     of    breath    as     she     was     she    quickened    ness- 
her   pace    and    trudged    on,  flushed,  perspiring,  panting,  until   she 
reached    the   house. 

"  Thaddeus  !  "    she    called. 

No  Taddy  answered.  She  went  in.  The  house  was  deserted. 
And    lo !    the    carpet    torn    up    and    the   bonds    abstracted  ! 

Mr.  Ducklow  never  would  have  made  such  work  removing 
the  bonds.  Then  somebody  else  must  have  taken  them,  she 
reasoned. 

"  The    man    in    the    chaise ! "    she    exclaimed,   or   rather   made 


gets  a  very  high  rate,  and  the  difference  more  than  pays  for 
any  slight  difficulty  in  convertibility.  We  have  found  in  our 
business  that  investors  have  often  preferred  Bonds  which 
have  run  some  little  time  and  which  have  thus  proved  them- 
selves good  ;  and  this  demand  for  old  Bonds  has  always 
been  so  great  that  we  have  been  able  to  buy  back  all  which 

7i 


an  effort  to  exclaim,  succeeding  only  in  bringing  forth  a  hoarse, 
gasping  sound.     Fear  dried  up   articulation.      Fox  faucibus  hccsit. 

And  Taddy  ?  He  had  disappeared — been  murdered,  perhaps, 
or   gagged  and    carried    away  by  the  man  in  the  chaise. 

Mrs.    Ducklow    flew    hither     and    thither    (to     use    a    favorite 

phrase    of  her  own),  "like  a  hen    with    her  head    cut    off;"    then 

rushed  out  of  the   house    and    up    the    street,  screaming  after   the 

chaise  : 
Geo.  P.  Bissell 
&  Co.   invite  "Murder!    murder!     Stop   thief!    stop   thief!" 

correspondence  She  waved  her  hands    aloft    in  the   air  frantic- 

from    investors 

with    small    a^.v-     *'    sne  'ia"  trudged  before,  now  she  trotted, 

means  as  well  as    now    she    cantered;    but    if    the    cantering    of    the 

from  those  hav-  .... 

ing  large  sums.    °^    mare    was     fitly    likened    to    that    of    a    cow, 

A  person  having  to  what   thing,  to    what    manner    of    motion    under 
only    one    thou- 
sand dollars  will  the    sun     sha11    we    llken     the     cantering    of    Mrs. 
receive  the  same  Ducklow?     It    was    original;     it    was     unique;    it 
attention  that  is  .  .  . 
given   to   one  was  prodigious  !     Mow,  with  her  frantically  waving 

having  ten  times  hands,  and  all  her  undulating  and  napping  skirts, 
that  amount.  . 

she   seemed     a    species     of    huge,    unwieldy    bird, 

attempting  to  fly.  Then  she  sank  down  into  a  heavy,  drag- 
ging walk, — breath  and  strength  all  gone, — no  voice  left  even  to 
scream  murder.  Then,  the  awful  realization  of  the  loss  of  the 
bonds  once  more  rushing  over  her,  she  started  up  again.  "Half 
running,    half  flying,  what   progress   she    made  ! "     Then    Atkins's 


have  ever  been  presented  at  only  a  commission  off;  and  thus 
investors  who  have  desired  to  realize  have  found  these 
Bonds  readily  convertible  into  cash,  without  any  of  the 
fluctuations  and  losses  which  are  common  to  Stocks  and 
other  Bonds.  For  example,  after  the  Chicago  fire  one  of 
our   Insurance   Companies,  which   held  a  large  amount   of 


dog  saw  her,  and,  naturally  mistaking  her  for  a  prodigy,  came 
out  at  her,  bristling  up  and  bounding  and  barking  terrifically. 

"Come  here!"  cried  Atkins,  following  the  dog.  "What's 
the  matter?     What's  to  pay,  Mrs.  Ducklow?" 

Attempting  to  speak,  the  good  woman  could  only  pant  and 
wheeze. 

"Robbed!"  she  at   last    managed    to   whisper,  amid  the   yelp- 
ings of  the  cur  that  refused  to  be  silenced.  „       _  _, 
°  Qeo.  P.  Bissell 

"  Robbed  ?     How?     Who  ?"  &  Co.  are  Bank- 

"  The  chaise.     Ketch  it."  era    having  the 

experience  of  a 
Her  gestures  expressed  more  than  her  words;    quarter  of  a  cen- 

and  Atkins's  horse  and  wagon,  with  which  he  had    tury'    durinS 

which  time  they 
been  drawing    out    brush,  being   in  the   yard  near    have  never  met 

by,  he  ran  to  them,  leaped  to  the  seat,  drove  into    Wlth   any    re~ 

verses,  but  have 
the  road,  took  Mrs.  Ducklow  aboard,  and  set  out  in    always   stood 

vigorous  pursuit  of  the  slow  two-wheeled  vehicle.        m* 

"  Stop,  you,  sir  !  Stop,  you,  sir  !  "  shrieked  Mrs.  Ducklow, 
having  recovered  her  breath  by  the  time  they  came  up  with  the 
chaise. 

It  stopped,  and  Mr.  Grantly,  the  minister,  put  out  his  good- 
natured,  surprised  face. 

"  You've  robbed  my  house  !     You've  took " 

Mrs.  Ducklow  was  going  on  in  wild,  accusatory  accents, 
when  she  recognized  the  benign  countenance. 

them,  came  to  us,  and  we  bought  the  lot  at  once,  and  the 
President  remarked  that  "  they  were  the  most  readily  con- 
vertible security  in  their  whole  list  of  solid  investments." 
But  while  we  consider  the  Bonds  as  easy  to  realize  on  as 
Bank  Stock  or  any  other  first-class  security,  besides  not 
being  subject  to  fluctuations  in  price,  we  prefer  to  sell  to 

73 


"What  do  you  say?  I  have  robbed  you?"  he  exclaimed, 
very  much  astonished. 

"  No,  no  !  not  you  !     You  wouldn't    do    such    a    thing  !  "   she 

stammered    forth,  while   Atkins,  who    had    laughed    himself   weak 

at  Mr.    Ducklow's    plight    earlier   in    the    morning,    now    laughed 

himself    into   a  side-ache    at    Mrs.  Ducklow's    ludicrous    mistake. 

"But  did   you — did  you  stop  at  my  house?     Have  you  seen   our 

Thaddeus  ? " 

Geo.  P.  Bissell  "Here    I    be,    Ma    Ducklow  !  "    piped   a   small 

&  Co.   have   for 

twenty-live    voice;    and    Taddy,    who    had    till    then    remained 

years    managed    hidden,    fearing    punishment,    peeped    out     of    the 

their    business  .  ,        ,   '  .  ,  , 

with   such  oru-    c'iaise    from    behind    the    broad    back   of   the    min- 

dence   and  cau-    ister. 

tion  that  no  pan- 

ics  have  affected  Taddy!    1  addy  !    how  came    the    carpet 

them.  "  I  pulled  it    up,  huntin'  for    a    marble,"    said 

Taddy,  as  she    paused,  overmastered  by  her  emotions. 

"And    the — the   thing    tied    up    in    a    brown   wrapper?" 

"  Pa  Ducklow  took  it." 

"  Ye  sure  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  seen  him  !  " 

"Oh,  dear!"  said  Mrs.  Ducklow,  "I  never  was  so  beat! 
Mr.  Grantly,  I  hope — excuse  me — I  didn't  know  what  I  was 
about  !  Taddy,  you  notty  boy,  what  did  you  leave  the  house  for? 
Be  ye  quite  sure  yer  Pa  Ducklow " 

such  persons  only  as  wish  an  investment  of  a  safe,  permanent 
character. 

Our    Twenty-five    Years'    Experience   of   Great 
Value. 

In   speaking  of  the   security  of  mortgages,  it  cannot  be 
assumed  that  all   mortgages  offered  by  parties  of  little  or  no 

74 


Taddy  repeated  that  he  was  quite  sure,  as  he  climbed  from 
the  chaise  into  Atkins's  wagon.  The  minister  smilingly  remarked 
that  he  hoped  she  would  find  no  robbery  had  been  committed, 
and  went  his  way.  Atkins,  driving  back,  and  setting  her  and 
Taddy  down  at  the  Ducklow  gate,  answered  her  embarrassed 
"Much  obleeged  to  ye,"  with  a  sincere  "Not  at  all,"  considering 
the  fun  he  had  had  .a  sufficient  compensation  for  his  trouble. 
And  thus  ended  the  morning's  adventures,  with  the  exception 
of  an  unimportant  episode,  in  which  Taddy,  Mrs.  Ducklow,  and 
Mrs.  Ducklow's    rattan  were  the  principal  actors. 

At    noon    Mr.  Ducklow  returned. 

"Did    ye    take    the    bonds?"    was  his  wife's  first  question. 

"  Of  course  I  did  !  Ye  don't  suppose  I'd  go  away  and  leave 
'em  in    the    house,  not    knowin'    when   you'd    be    comin'   home?" 

"  Wal,  I  didn't  know.  And  I  didn't  know  whuther  to  believe 
Taddy    or    not.     Oh,    I've    had    such    a    fright!"  Trades  made 

And   she    related    the   storv  of  her   pursuit  of    with  Geo.  P.Bis- 

sell  &  Co.  do  not 
the    minister.  "git   all    over 

"How  could  ye  make  such  a  fool  of  yerself?      own     •        ey 

consider  all  busi- 

It'll  git    all    over    town,    and    I    shall  be  mortified    ness    transacted 

to  death.     Jest  like  a  woman,  to  git  frightened  !  "       with   them    as 

private  and  con- 
"  If   you    hadn't    got    frightened,    and    made    a    fidential. 

fool  of  yourself,  yelling  fire,  'twouldn't  have  happened  !"  retorted 

Mrs.  Ducklow. 


experience  afford  a  safe  investment.  Judgment  is  required 
in  the  first  selection  of  the  property  upon  which  the  loan 
shall  be  made ;  a  nice  discrimination  as  to  the  character  of 
the  man  who  receives  the  money ;  disinterested  appraisers, 
of  experience,  who  are  not  neighbors  and  friends  of  the 
applicant,  and  who  will  set  a  valuation  that  will  stand  the 

75 


"  Wal  !   wal  !   say   no   more   about   it!     The   bonds   are    safe." 
"  I   was   in   hopes    you'd     change     'em     for    them    registered 

bonds  Reuben  spoke  of." 

"  I    did  try  to,  but   they  told  me    to    the    bank  it    couldn't    be 

did.     Then    I    asked    'em    if  they    would    keep    'em    for   me,    and 

Geo.  P.  Bissell    they     said    they    wouldn't    object    to     lockin'    on 

&   Co.    invite*    .1     ■  c         ,     ,     .,  1  1    •, 

em    up    in     their    safe  ;    but    thev    wouldn  t    give 
correspondence  J 

from-  investors  me  no    receipt,    nor    hold    themselves    responsible 

with     small  for    >em        j    di(Jn>t    know    what     else    tQ    do    SQ    T 

means  as  well  as 

from  those  hav-  handed    'em  the    bonds  to  keep." 

ing  large  sums.  „  j   wam   tQ   knQW  if  did   nQW  ,  „    exclaim. 

A  person  having 

only    one  thou-  ed  Mrs.  Ducklow,    disapprovingly. 

sand  dollars  will  „  w,       nQt  ?      what   e]se   CQuld    j    do  ?      j  didn.t 

receive  the  same 

attention  that  is  want  to   lug 'em    around    with  me  forever.     And  as 

given   to   one    |-Qr  jjeepin'  'em  hid  in  the  house,  we've  tried  that  !  " 

having  ten  times 

that  amount.  and    Ducklow    unfolded    his  weekly  newspaper. 

Mrs.  Ducklow  was  placing  the  dinner  on  the  table,  with  a 
look  which  seemed  to  say,  "  /  wouldn't  have  left  the  bonds  in 
the  bankj'wy  judgment  would  have  been  better  than  all  that. 
If  they  are  lost,  I  sha'n't  be  to  blame  !  "  when  suddenly  Ducklow 
started  and  uttered  a  cry  of  consternation  over  his  newspa- 
per. 

"  Why,  what  have  ye   found  ?  " 

"  Bank    robbery  !  " 


test — if  need  be — of  a  sale  under  the  hammer  ;  and,  finally, 
a  lawyer  versed  in  real  estate  law,  who  will  not  take  an 
abstract  as  satisfactory  proof  of  clear  title,  but  will  investi- 
gate fully  the  record  books,  and  look  out  for  flaws  which 
cannot  be  discovered  in  a  hurried  examination  by  one  who 
has  no  other  interest  than  simply  to  secure  his  fee.     It  is  just 

76 


"Not  your  bank?     Not    the    bank    where  your  bonds -'" 

"Of    course    not;    but    in     the    very    next,  town  !     The     safe 

blown     open     with    gunpowder!       Five     thousand       Geo.  P.  Bissell 

dollars    in    Gov'ment   bonds    stole!"  &  Co.  have  new, 

extra  strong.and 
"How  strange!"    said   Mrs.   Ducklow.     "Now    fire-proof    Safe 

what    did    I    tell   ye?"  DePosit  Vaults- 

with    the    latest 

"I  believe  you're  right!"  cried  Ducklow,  and  best  i in- 
starting     to    his   feet.      "They'll     be    safer    in    my    Pavements, 

guarded    by 
own   house,  or    even    in    my  own    pocket!"  double chronom- 

"  If  you  was    going  to    put    'em    in    any   safe,    eter   locks'    and 
1  e>        &  r  /i    thus  offer  every 

why  not    put    'em    in    Josiah's?      He's   got    a    safe,    security  against 
ve   know."  robbery    and 

theft.     Boxes  to 
"  So  he  has  !     We   might    drive  over  there  and    rent. 

make  a  visit  Monday,  and    ask  him    to  lock  up yes,  we  might 

tell  him  and  Laury   all    about    it,  and  leave  'em  in  their  charge." 

"  So   we   might,"    said  Mrs.    Ducklow. 

Laura  was  their  daughter,  and  Josiah  her  husband,  in 
whose  honor  and  sagacity  they  placed  unlimited  confidence. 
The   plan   was   resolved   upon    at   once. 

"To-morrow's  Sunday,"  said  Ducklow,  pacing  the  floor- 
"  If  we  leave  the  bonds  in  the  bank  over  night,  they  must 
stay    there    till    Monday." 

"  And  Sunday  is  jest  the  day  for  burglars  to  operate  ! " 
added    Mrs.    Ducklow. 


here  that  we  make  our  strongest  claim.  For  twenty-five 
years  we  have  given  these  points  our  closest  study.  Our 
agents,  appraisers,  and  lawyers  stand  unrivalled  in  their 
respective  departments ;  our  transactions  are  so  large  that 
we  are  able  to  secure  their  entire  services,  and  their  inter- 
ests in  making  no  mistakes  are  identical  with  ours.     Such 

77 


"I've   a  good   notion — let   me   see!"   said    Ducklow,  looking 

at   the   clock.      "  Twenty  minutes   after  twelve  !      Bank   closes  at 

Geo.  P.  Bissell  two!     An    hour    and    a    half, — I    believe    I   could 

&     Co.'s     office,  -t    (here    in    an    hour      and      a    half       j      win         |.u 
307  Main  street, 

Hartford,  Conn.,  take    a    bite    and    drive    right    back." 

open  for  busi-  Which   he    accordingly   did,    and    brought    the 

ness     until    4 

o'clock  P.  M.         tape-tied    envelope  home    with    him    again.      That 

night    he     slept    with    it    under   his    pillow.      The    next    day    was 

Sundav  ;    and    although    Mr.  Ducklow   did    not    like    to    have    the 

bonds    on     his     mind    during    sermon-time,    and     Mrs.    Ducklow 

"dreaded     dreadfully,"    as     she    said,   "to    look    the    minister   in 

the  face,"  they  concluded    that    it   was   best,  on   the    whole,  to  go 

to    meeting  and   carry    the  bonds.    With  the    envelope  once  more 

in   his    breast-pocket     (stitched    in  this    time    by    Mrs.  Ducklow*s 

own    hand),  the    farmer    sat    under   the    droppings 
"  Min  isters  " 
never  "  except"    of  the  sanctuary,    and  stared  up  at  the  good  min- 

the  8  per  cenj.    jster)  hut  without  hearing  a  word  of  the  discourse, 

Real     Estate 

Bondsof  Geo.  P.    his     mind    was     so    engrossed     by    worldly   cares, 

Bissell  &  Co.,    until     the    preacher   exclaimed    vehementlv,  look- 
but  always  glad- 
ly accept  them    ing    straight    at    Ducklow' s  pew: 

either  as   dona-  ■•  what  said  Paul  ?     '  I  would  to  God  that  not 

tions  from   their 

parishioners    or    only  thou,   but    also     all    that    hear    me    this    day, 

as    investments    were  both   almost   and    altogether   such    as    I    am, 
for  themselves. 

except    these     bonis.'      '  Except    these    bonds   !       he 

repeated,   striking    the    Bible.     "Can    you,  my  hearers, — can    you 


experience  as  ours,  and  such  a  trained  corps  of  assistants  as 
we  have,  cannot  be  obtained  in  a  day  nor  in  a  year  ;  and  we 
claim  that  our  Bonds,  gotten  up  under  such  auspices,  cannot 
be  equalled  by  those  of  any  other  Banking  House  or  Loan 
Association  in  the  country. 

78 


say,  with  Paul,  'Would  that  all  were  as  I  am,  except  these  bonds'  ?" 

A    point    which    seemed    for    a    moment   so    personal    to    himself 

that  Ducklow  was  filled  with  confusion,  and  would  certainly  have 

stammered  out  some  foolish  answer,  had  not  the  preacher  passed 

on  to  other  themes.     As  it  was,  Ducklow  contented  himself  with 

glancing  around  to  see  if  the  congregation  were  looking  at   him, 

and  carelessly  passing  his  hand  across  his  breast-pocket  to  make 

sure  the  bonds  were  still  there. 

Early    the    next    morning    the    old    mare    was    harnessed,  and 

Taddv's    adopted    parents    set     out    to    visit    their 

It    is    a    good 

daughter, — Mrs.    Ducklow    having    postponed    her    rule   to    invest 

washing  for  the  purpose.     It  was    afternoon   when    money   through 

°  *       !  old-established, 

they  arrived  at  their  journey's  end.     Laura  receiv-    experienced, and 

ed    them    joyfully,  but    Tosiah    was    not    expected    C0Ilservatlve 

■  Bankers.      The 

home    until    evening.     Mr.   Ducklow    put    the    old    firm  of  Geo.  P. 

mare    in  the  barn,  and  fed  her,  and    then    went  in    Bisse     &  Co-  IS 

such  a  house, 
to  dinner,  feeling  very  comfortable  indeed. 

"  Josiah's  got  a  nice  place  here.  That's  about  as  slick  a 
little  barn  as  ever  I  see.  Always  does  me  good  to  come  over 
here    and    see   you    gittin'    along    so    nicely,  Laury." 

"  I    wish   you'd    come   oftener,    then,"    said    Laura. 

"Wal,  it's  hard  leavin'  home,  ye  know.  Have  to  get  one 
of  the  Atkins  boys  to  come  and  sleep  with  Taddy  the  night 
we're    away." 


We  have  thus  given  all  the  points  which  occur  to  us;  but 
we  will  be  happy  to  answer  any  questions  concerning  these 
securities  which  may  suggest  themselves  to  those  who  wish 
to  buy. 

In  summing  up  we  can  only  say,  that  if  these  Bonds 

ARE  NOT  GOOD,  THEN  WE  DO  NOT  KNOW  WHAT  IS.   We  HAVE 

79 


"  We  shouldn't  have  come  to-day,  if  't  hadn't  been  for  me," 
remarked  Mrs.  Ducklow.  "  Says  I  to  your  father,  says  I,  'I  feel  as 
if  I  wanted  to  go  over  and  see  Laury;  it  seems  an  age  since  I've 
seen  her,'  says  I.  '  Wal,'  says  he,  '  s'pos'n'  we  go!'  says  he. 
That    was    only   last    Saturday;    and    this    morning    we  started." 

"  And    it's    no   fool    of  a   job    to   make    the   journey  with   the 

old   mare  ! "    said    Ducklow. 

"Why    don't  vou  drive    a    better  horse?"   said 
Incomes  in-  '  J 

creased    by    in-    Laura,    whose    pride     was    always    touched    when 

vesting    in    the    her   parents   came    to  vjs;t    )ier  with.   the  old  mare 
above    mention- 
ed  8    per   cent,    and    the    one-horse   wagon. 

on  s'  "Oh,    she    answers    my     purpose.      Hossflesh 

is   high,  Laury.      Have    to    economize,  these  times." 

"I'm  sure  there's  no  need  of  your  economizing!"  exclaimed 
Laura,  leading  the  way  to  the  dining-room.  "  Why  don't  you 
use   your   money,   and   have    the   good    of  it  ? " 

"So  I  tell  him,"  said  Mrs.  Ducklow,  faintly.  "Why,  Laury! 
I  didn't  want  you  to  be  to  so  much  trouble  to  git  dinner  jest 
for   us !     A   bite   would   have   answered.     Do   see,   father ! " 

At  evening  Josiah  came  home,  and  it  was  not  till  then  that 
Ducklow  mentioned  the  subject  which  was  foremost  in  his  thoughts. 

"What  do  ye  think  o'  Gov'ment  bonds,  Josiah?"  he  inci- 
dentally inquired,  after  supper. 

"  First-rate  !  "   said    Josiah. 


SOLD  IMMENSE  AMOUNTS  DURING  TWENTY-FIVE  YEARS, 
GIVING  GREAT  SATISFACTION  TO  OUR  CUSTOMERS,  AND  CON- 
STANTLY INCREASING    OUR    BUSINESS.       We  SHALL    TAKE    AS 

much  care  in  the  future  as  in  the  past,  and  we  ask, 
What  can  be  better,  as  an  investment,  than  these 
Eight  Per  Cent.   Bonds? 

So 


"About  as  safe  as  anything,  a'n't  they?"  asked  Ducklovv, 
encouraged. 

"Safe?"  cried  Josiah.  "Just  look  at  the  resources  of  this 
country !  Nobody  has  yet  begun  to  appreciate  the  power  and  un- 
developed wealth  of  these  United  States.  It's  a  big  rebellion,  I 
know  ;  but  we're  going  to  put  it  down.  It'll  leave  us  a  big 
debt,    ver)'  sure  ;  but    we  handle    it    now  easy  as    that    child    lifts 

that  stool.      It    makes    him    grunt    and    stagger    a       „,.    „ 

°  °°  The  8  per  cent. 

little,  not  because   he    isn't    strong   enough  for   it,    Bonds    sold    by 

but  because  he  don't  understand  his  own  strength,    _     " 

°  &  Co.  cannot  be 

or  how  to    use  it;   he'll    have    twice    the  strength,    repudiated  by 

and    know  iust   how  to  apply  it,  in  a  little  while.    a   v0   e   °        e 
J  J  people,    as   they 

Just   so  with  this  country.     It  makes  me  laugh  to    are    Individual 

hear  folks  talk  about  repudiation  and  bankruptcy."    Bonds>    secured 

v  v     J        by    First     Mort- 

"  But    s'pos'n'  we  do  put  down  the    rebellion,    gage  on  improv- 

and  the  States  come  back  ;  then  what's  to  hender    ed  cltyPr0Perty- 

the  South,   and    Secesh    sympathizers  in    the    North,    from   j'ining 

together    and    votin'    that    the    debt  sha'n't  be  paid?" 

We  refer  to 

Hartford  National  Bank Hartford. 

Exchange  National  Bank 

Hon.  Calvin  Day 

Hon.  Joseph  R.  Hawley 

Hon.  Marshall  Jewell " 

Bank  of  New  York New  York. 

Vermilye  &  Co 

Drexel,  Morgan  &  Co 

Not  that  these  parties  know  about  each  set  of  Bonds 
which  we  sell,  but  they  know  our  standing,  and  can  vouch 
for  the  trustworthiness  of  our  statements. 

Si 


"  Don't  you  worry  about    that !     Do   ye   suppose  we're  going 

to  be  such  fools  as  to  give  the  Rebels,  after   we've  whipped    em, 

the    same    political    power    they  had  before    the    war?      Not    bv  a 

long    chalk  !      Sooner    than    that,    we'll    put    the    ballot    into    the 

hands  of  the  freedmen.     They're  our  friends.     They've  fought  on 

the  right  side,  and  they'll  vote  on  the  right  side.     I  tell  ye,  spite 

of  all  the  prejudice  there  is    against  black  skins,  we  a'n't    such  a 

nation  of   ninnies  as  to   give    up  all  we're    fighting  for,  and  leave 

our   best    friends   and    allies,  not    to    speak  of  our   own  interests, 

in  the  hands  of  our  enemies." 

"  You  consider   Gov'ments  a  good  investment,  then,  do  ye  ?  " 

said  Ducklow,  growing  radiant. 

Josiah   should  "*    do,    decidedly,  —  the    very    best.      Besides, 

have  added  (and    VOu    help    the    Government ;   and    that's    no    small 

probably   did   in 

t,:=  „.„,,  m;*,A\     consideration, 
nis   own   mind), 

"Except    the   8  "So    I     thought.      But    how    is    it     about     the 

per  cent.  Bonds  ,         ,,„,,,  ,  .    ,  ,.   , 

sold  by  Geo    P     cowpon    bonds?     Ant    they    rather    ticklish  prop- 

Bissell  &  Co.,  of   erty  to  have  in  the  house?" 
Hartford, Conn."  , 

Well,  1  don  t  know,      ihink  how  many  years 

you'll  keep  old  bills  and  documents  and  never  dream  of  such 
a  thing  as  losing  them  !  There's  not  a  bit  more  danger  with 
the  bonds.  I  shouldn't  want  to  carry  'em  around  with  me, 
to  any  great  amount, — though  I  did  once  carry  three  thousand- 
dollar  bonds  in  my  pocket  for  a  week.     I  didn't  mind  it." 

"Curi's!"  said  Ducklow.  "I've  got  three  thousand-dollar 
bonds  in  my  pocket  this  minute!" 

"Well,  it's  so  much  good  property,"  said  Josiah,  appearing 
not  at  all  surprised  at  the    circumstance. 

"  Seems  to  me,  though,  if  I  had  a  safe,  as  you  have,  I  should 
lock  'em  up  in  it." 

"  I  was  travelling  that  week.  I  locked  'em  up  pretty  soon 
after  I  got  home,  though." 

82 


"Suppose,"  said  Ducklow,  as  if  the  thought  had  but  just  oc- 
curred to  him,  "suppose  you  put  my  bonds  into  your  safe.  I 
shall  feel  easier." 

"  Of  course,"  replied  Josiah;  "I'll  keep  'em  for  you,  if  you 
like." 

"It  will  be  an    accommodation.     They'll  be    safe,  will  they?" 

"  Safe  as  mine  are  ;  safe  as  anybody's.  I'll  insure  'em  for 
twenty-five  cents." 

Ducklow  was  happy.  Mrs.  Ducklow  was  happy.  She  took 
her  husband's  coat,  and  with  a  pair  of  scissors  cut  the  threads 
that  stitched  the  envelope  to  the  pocket.  Geo  p   B;ssen 

"  Have  you  torn  off  the  May  coupons? "  asked    &  Co.  are  Bank- 

T      .  ers    having    the 

-'  experience  of  a 

"No."  quarter  of  a  cen- 

.         ,  ,  Fnif.ii  tury,     during 

Well,  youd  better.     They  11  be  payable  now    which  time  they 

soon  ;  and    if  you    take    them,  you   wont    have    to    have  never  met 

1111  ..,,,.  .with    any    re- 

touch   the    bonds    again    tdl    the    interest    on    the    verseS)  but  have 

November  coupons  is  due."  always   stood 

"  A  good  idea  !  "  said   Ducklow. 

He  took  the  envelope,  untied  the  tape,  and  removed  its  con- 
tents. Suddenly  the  glow  of  comfort,  the  gleam  of  satisfaction, 
faded    from  his  countenance. 

"  Hello  !     What  ye  got  there  ?  "    cried  Josiah. 

"Why,  father!   massy  sakes  ! "    exclaimed  Mrs.  Ducklow. 

As  for  Ducklow  himself,  he  could  not  utter  a  word  ;  but, 
dumb  with  consternation,  he  looked  again  in  the  envelope,  and 
opened  and  turned  inside  out,  and  shook,  with  trembling  hands, 
its  astonishing  contents.  The  bonds  were  not  there  ;  they  had 
been  stolen,  and  three  copies  of  the  "  Sunday  Visitor  "  had  been 
inserted  in  their  place. 

Very  early  on  the  following  morning  a  dismal-faced  middle- 
aged    couple    might   have    been    seen    riding    away   from    Josiah's 

83 


house.     It  was  the  Ducklows  returning  home,  after  their  fruitless, 

their  worse    than    fruitless,  journey.     No    entreaties    could  prevail 

upon  them    to    prolong    their   visit.      It    was    with    difficult)'    even 

that  they  had  been  prevented  from  setting  off  immediately  on  the 

discover}-  of  their  loss,  and  travelling  all  night,  in  their  impatience 

to  get  upon  the  track  of  the  missing  bonds. 

"  There'll  be  not  the  least  use  in  going  to-night,"  Josiah  had 

said.     "  If  they  were  stolen    at  the    bank,    you    can't    do    anything 

about  it  till  to-morrow.     And  even  if  they  were  taken  from    your 

own   house,    I    don't    see    Avhat's    to   be    gained    now   by   hurrying 

back.     It  isn't    probable   you'll  ever    see  'em  again,  and    you  may 

just  as  well  take  it    easy, — go    to  bed  and  sleep    on  it,  and  get  a 

fresh  start  in  the  morning." 

„  So,  much  against  their  inclination,  the    unfor- 

Geo.  P.  Bissell  ° 

&  Co.  have   for    tunate  owners  of  the  abstracted    bonds  retired    to 

twenty-five    t^e    iuxurious  chamber  Laura  gave  them,  and  lav 

years     managed 

their    business    awake  all  night,  gioaning  and  sighing,  wondering 

with   such   pru-    ancj  surm;sing)  anci  (j;  regret  to  add)  blaming  each 
dence    and    cau- 
tion that  no  pan-    other.     So  true   it  is  that   "modern  conveniences," 

ics  have  affected    hot    ancj    coid   water   au    over   the   house,   a    pier- 
them. 

glass,  and  the  most  magnificently  canopied  couch, 

avail  nothing  to  give  tranquillity  to  the  harrassed  mind.     Hitherto 

the  Ducklows  had  felt  great  satisfaction  in  the  style  their  daughter, 

by  her  marriage,  was    enabled    to    support.      To  brag  of  her  nice 

house    and    furniture    and    two    servants   was    almost    as    good    as 

possessing  them.     Remembering  her   rich  dining-room  and    silver 

service  and  porcelain,  they  were  proud.     Such  things  were  enough 

for  the   honor  of  the  family  ;   and,  asking  nothing  for  themselves, 

they    slept   well    in    their    humblest    of  bed-chambers,    and    sipped 

their  tea  contentedly  out   of  clumsy  earthen.      But  that  night  the 

boasted    style    in  which  their  "darter"  lived  was  less  appreciated 

than  formerly ;  fashion  and  splendor  were  no  longer  a  consolation. 

84 


"If  we  had  only  given  the  three  thousan'  dollars  (<>  Reuben!" 
said  Ducklow,  driving  homeward  with  a  countenance  as  long  as 
his  whip-lash;  "'twould  have  just  set  him  up,  and  been  some 
compensation  for  his  sufferin's  and  losses  goin'  to  the  war." 

"Wal,  I  had  no  objections,"  replied  Mrs.  Ducklow.  "I  al- 
ways thought  he  ought  to  have  the  money  eventooally.  And,  as 
Miss  Beswick  said,  no  doubt  it  would  'a'  been  ten  times  the 
comfort  to  him  now  it  would  be  a  number  o'  years  from  now. 
But  you  didn't  seem  willing." 

"I  don't  know!    'twas  you  that  wasn't  willin' !  " 

And  the)'  expatiated  on  Reuben's  merits,  and  their  benevo- 
lent  intentions    towards   him,  and,    in    imagination,    endowed  him 

with  the  price  of  the  bonds  over  and  over  again  ; 

It    is    a    good 
so  easy  is  it  to  be  generous  with  lost  money!  rule   to    invest 

"But    it's    no    use    talkin'!"    said    Ducklow.    money   through 

old-established, 
"I've   not   the   least    idee    we    shall    ever    see    the    experienced, and 

color  o'  them  bonds    again.      If  they  was  stole  to    conservatlve 

Bankers.      The 
the  bank,  I  can't  prove  anything."  firm  Df  Geo.  P. 

"It  does  seem  strange  to  me,"  Mrs.  Ducklow    Bisse11  &  Co-  1S 

such  a  house, 
replied,     "  that    you    should    have    had    no    more 

gumption  than  to    trust  the  bonds  with   strangers,  when  they  told 

you  in  so  many  words  they  wouldn't  be  responsible." 

"  If  you  have  flung  that  in  my  teeth  once,  you  have  fifty 
times!"  And  Ducklow  lashed  the  old  mare,  as  if  she,  and  not 
Mrs.  Ducklow,  had  exasperated  him. 

"Wal,"  said  the  lady,  "  I  don't  see  how  we're  going  to  work 
to  find  'em,  now  they're  lost,  without  making  inquiries;  and  we 
can't  make  inquiries  without  letting  it  be  known  we  had 
bought." 

"I  been  thinkin'  about  that,"  said  her  husband.  "Oh,  dear!" 
with  a  groan  ;  "  I  wish  the  pesky  cowpon  bonds  had  never  been 
invented  ! " 

35 


They  drove  first  to  the  bank,  where  they  were  of  course  told 
that  the  envelope  had  not  been  untied  there.  "  Besides,  it  was 
sealed,  wasn't  it?"  said  the  cashier.  "Indeed!"  He  expressed 
great  surprise,  when  informed  that  it  was  not.  "  It  should  have 
been ;  I  supposed  any  child  would  know  enough  to  look  out 
for  that !" 

And  this  was  all  the  consolation  Ducklow  could  obtain. 

"Just  as  I  expected,"  said  Mrs.  Ducklow,  as  they  resumed 
their  journey.  "  I  just  as  much  believe  that  man  stole  your  bonds 
as  that  you  trusted  'em  in  his  hands  in  an  unsealed  wrapper! 
Beats  all,  how  you  could  be  so  careless!" 

"Wal,  wal  !     I  s'pose  I  never  shall  hear  the  last  on't  !  " 

And  again  the    poor   old  mare   had  to    suffer   for  Mrs.  Duck- 

Geo.  P.  Bissell    low's  offences. 

They   had    but    one    hope    now — that    perhaps 
speculate     and 

never  take  spec-    Taddy  had    tampered  with  the  envelope,  and    that 

ulative   orders    tlie    Doncjs    might   be  found    somewhere  about    the 

for  stocks  "  on  a 

margin."    They    house.      But    this   hope   was    quickly  extinguished 

do  a  steady,  old-    on    t|ieir  arrivai_     Taddy,  being  accused,  protested 

fashioned,      safe 

banking-   busi-    his  innocence  with  a  vehemence  which  convinced 

ness-  even    Mr.    Ducklow  that  the  cashier  was  probably 

the  guilty  party. 

"  Unless,"  said  he,  brandishing  the  rattan,  "  somebody  got 
into  the  house  that  morning  when  the  little  scamp  run  off  to 
ride  with  the  minister!" 

"  Oh,  don't  lick  me  for  that !  I've  been  licked  for  that  once  ; 
ha'n't  I,  Ma  Ducklow?"    shrieked  Taddy. 

The  house  was  searched  in  vain.  No  clue  to  the  purloined 
securities  was  obtained, —  the  copies  of  the  "  Sunday  Visitor," 
which  had  been  substituted  for  them,  affording  not  the  least  ;  for 
that  valuable  little  paper  was  found  in  almost  every  household, 
except  Ducklow's. 

86 


"  I  don't    see    any  way  left  but    to  advertise,  as   Josiah    said," 

remarked  the  farmer,  with  a  deep  sigli  of  despondency. 

"And    that'll    bring    it    all    out!"    exclaimed    Mrs.     Ducklow. 

"If  you  only  hadn't  been  so  imprudent!" 

Read    the    ad- 
"Wal.wal!"  said   Ducklow,  cutting  her  short,    vertisement     of 

Before    resorting    to    public    measures   for    the    Geo-  P-  Blssell& 

Co.  in  this  book, 
recovery    of    the    stolen    property,  it  was    deemed 

expedient  to  acquaint  their  friends  with  their  loss  in  a  private 
way.  The  next  da}',  accordingly,  the}-  went  to  pay  Reuben  a 
visit.  It  was  a  very  different  meeting  from  that  which  took 
place  a  few  mornings  before.  The  returned  soldi-er  had  gained 
in  health,  but  not  in  spirits.  The  rapture  of  reaching  home 
once  more,  the  flush  of  hope  and  happiness,  had  passed  away 
with  the  visitors  who  had  flocked  to  offer  their  congratula- 
tions. 

He  had  had  time  to  reflect  ;  he  had  reached  home,  indeed  ;  but 
now  every  moment  reminded  him  how  soon  that  home  was  to 
be  taken  from  him.  He  looked  at  his  wife  and  children,  and 
clenched  his  teeth  hard  to  stifle  the  emotions  that  arose  at  the 
thought  of  their  future.  The  sweet  serenity,  the  faith  and  patience 
and  cheerfulness,  which  never  ceased  to  illumine  Sophronia's 
face  as  she  moved  about  the  house,  pursuing  her  daily  tasks 
and  tenderly  waiting  upon  him,  deepened  at  once  his  love  and 
his  solicitude.  He  was  watching  her  thus  when  the  Ducklows 
entered  with  countenances  mournful  as  the  grave. 

"How  are  you  gittin'  along,  Reuben?"  said  Ducklow,  while 
his  wife  murmured  a  solemn  "  good-morning  "  to  Sophronia. 

"  I  am  doing  well  enough.  Don't  be  at  all  concerned  about 
me  !  It  a'n't  pleasant  to  lie  here,  and  feel  it  may  be  months, 
months,  before  I'm  able  to  be  about  my  business  ;  but  I  wouldn't 
mind  it, — I  could  stand  it  first-rate, — I  could  stand  anything, 
anything    but    to    see    her    working    her    life    out    for  me  and  the 

87 


children  !  To  no  purpose,  either ;  that's  the  worst  of  it.  We 
shall  have  to  lose  this  place,  spite  of  fate  !  " 

"Oh,  Reuben  !"  said  Sophronia,  hastening  to  him,  and  laying 
her  soothing  hands  upon  his  hot  forehead  ;  "  why  wont  you  stop 
thinking  about  that?  Do  try  to  have  more  faith  !  We  shall  be 
taken  care  of,  I'm  sure  ! " 

"  If  I  had  three  thousand  dollars — yes,  or  even  two — then  I'd 

have  faith  !  "  said  Reuben.     "  Miss  Beswick  has  proposed  to  send 

a  subscription  paper  around  town  for  us  ;  but  I'd  rather  die  than 

have  it  done  !     Besides,  nothing  near  that  amount  could  be  raised, 

I'm    confident.     You    needn't  groan   so,  Pa  Duck- 
Geo.  P.  Bissell  6 

&  Co.  invite  low,  for  I  a'n't  hinting  at  you.  I  don't  expect 
correspondence  tQ  h.      mjJ  Qut  of  trouble.      If  you  had  felt 

from    investors  ' 

with    small  called    upon    to   do  it,  you'd  have    done    it    before 
means  as  well  as  nQW ,    and   T   don"t   ask)   t   don-t  beg  of  anv  man;" 
from  those  hav- 
ing large  sums,  added  the  soldier,  proudly. 

A  person  having  "That's    rieht ;    I    like    voursperit!"    said  the 

only    one    thou- 
sand dollars  will    miserable  Ducklow.     "But   I  was  sighing  to  think 

receive  the  same    Qf  something, — something  you  haven't  known  anv- 

attention  that  is 

given    to    one    thing  about,  Reuben." 

having  ten  times  "Yes,  Reuben,  we    should    have  helped  you," 

that  amount. 

said    Mrs.     Ducklow,    "and    did,    did    take    steps 

towards  it " 

"  In  fact,"  resumed  Ducklow,  "  you've  met  with  a  great 
misfortin',  Reuben.  Unbeknown  to  yourself,  you've  met  with 
a    great   misfortin'  !     Yer    Ma    Ducklow    knows." 

"  Yes,  Reuben,  the  very  day  you  came  home,  your  Pa 
Ducklow  made  an  investment  for  your  benefit.  We  didn't 
mention  it, — you  know  I  wouldn't  own  up  to  it,  though  I 
didn't  exactly  say  the  contrary,  the  morning  we  was  over 
here " 

"Because,"    said    Ducklow,    as    she    faltered,    "  wc    wanted    to 


surprise  you  ;  we  was  keepin'  it  a  secret  till  the  right  time, 
then    we   was   goin'    to    make    it    a    pleasant    surprise    to   ye." 

"  What  in  the  name  of  common-sense  are  you  talking 
about ! "  cried  Reuben,  looking  from  one  to  the  other  of  the 
wretched,    prevaricating    pair. 

"  Cowpon  bonds!"  groaned  Ducklow.  "Three  thousan'- 
dollar  cowpon  bonds  !  The  money  had  been  lent,  but  I  wanted 
to  make  a  good  investment  for  you,  and  I  thought  there  was 
nothin'    so   good   as  Gov'ments " 

"  That's    all    right,"  said  Reuben.     "  Only,  if  you  had    money 

to    invest    for    my   benefit,    I    should    have    preferred    to    pay   off 

the   mortgage   the   first   thing." 

"  Sartin  !    sartin  !  "    said    Ducklow  ;    "  and    you    0  Ge0,  P"  Bisse11 

'  &  Co.  are  Bank- 

could  have  turned    the  bonds  right  in,  if  you  had    ers   having    the 

so  chosen,  like  so  much  cash.     Or  you  could  have    exPenenc«  °     a 

quarter  of  a  cen- 
drawed   your   interest    on    the   bonds   in  gold,  and    tury,    during 

paid    the    interest  on    your   mortgage   in   currency,    w  lcntimetnev 

have   never  met 
and  made  so  much,  as  I  rather  thought  you  would."    with    any   re- 


"  But  the  bonds?"  eagerly  demanded  Reuben, 


verses,  but  have 
always    stood 
with  trembling  hopes,  just  as  Miss  Beswick,  with    firm. 

her  shawl  over  her  head,  entered  the  room. 

"  We  was  jest  telling  about  our  loss,  Reuben's  loss,"  said 
Mrs.  Ducklow,  in  a  manner  which  betrayed  no  little  anxiety  to 
conciliate    that    terrible   woman. 

"  Very  well  !  don't  let  me  interrupt."  And  Miss  Beswick, 
slipping   the    shawl    from   her   head,    sat    down. 

Her  presence,  stiff  and  prim  and  sarcastic,  did  not  tend  in 
the  least  to  relieve  Mr.  Ducklow  from  the  natural  embarrass- 
ment he  felt  in  giving  his  version  of  Reuben's  loss.  However, 
assisted  occasionally  by  a  judicious  remark  thrown  in  by  Mrs. 
Ducklow,  he  succeeded  in  telling  a  sufficiently  plausible  and 
candid-seeming   story. 


"  I  see  !  I  see  !  "  said  Reuben,  who  had  listened  with  astonish- 
ment and  pain  to  the  narrative.  "  You  had  kinder  intentions 
towards  me  than  I  gave  you  credit  for.  Forgive  me,  if  I  wronged 
you  !"  He  pressed  the  hand  of  his  adopted  father,  and  thanked 
him  from  a  heart  filled  with  gratitude  and  trouble.  "  But  don't 
feel  so  bad  about  it.  You  did  what  you  thought  best.  I  can 
only   say,   the   fates   are   against   me." 

"  Hem  !  "  coughing,  Miss  Beswick  stretched  up  her  long  neck 
and  cleared  her  throat.  "  So  them  bonds  you  had  bought  for 
Reuben  was  in  the  house  the  very  night  I  called  !  " 

"Yes,  Miss  Beswick,"  replied  Mrs.  Ducklow;  "and  that's 
what  made  it  so  uncomfortable  to  us  to  have  you  talk  the  way 
Geo.  P.  Bissell    you    did." 

&  Co.  have  for  "Hem!"      The    neck    was    stretched    up    still 

twenty-five 

years    managed    farther    than   before,    and    the    redoubtable    throat 

their   business  cleared   again<      " 'Twas    too   bad!      Ye   ought    to 
with    such    pru- 
dence  and  cau-  have  told  me.     You'd  actooally  bought   the  bonds 
tion  that  no  pan-  _bought  -em  for  Reuben,  had  ye?" 
ics  have  affected 
them.  "  Sartin  !    sartin  !  "  said  Ducklow. 

"To  be  sure!"  said  Mrs.  Ducklow. 

"  We  designed  'em  for  his  benefit,  a  surprise,  when  the 
right   time    come,"    said    both    together. 

"Hem!  well!"  (It  was  evident  that  the  Beswick  was  clear- 
ing her  decks  for  action.)  "When  the  right  time  come!  yes! 
That  right  time  wasn't  somethin'  indefinite,  in  the  fur  futur'  of 
course !  Yer  losin'  the  bonds  didn't  hurry  up  yer  benevolence 
the   least  grain,   I    s'pose !     Hem!   let   in   them   boys,  Sophrony!" 

Sophronia  opened  the  door,  and  in  walked  Master  Dick  At- 
kins (son  of  the  brush-burner),  followed,  not  without  reluctance 
and    concern,  by  Master  Taddy. 

"  Thaddeus  !  what  you  here  for?"  demanded  the  adopted 
parents. 

yo 


"  Because    I    said   so,"    remarked    Miss   Beswick,   arbitrarily. 

"Step  along,  boys,  step  along.     Hold  up  yer  head, 

t*    j j        r  •    >*  •    •    .       i        u  i    i        t>  "Children  cry 

Taddy,   for   ye    ant    goin     to    be    hurt   while    I  m    f     „     _.  p 

around.     Take   yer  fists  out  o'  yer  eyes,  and   stop    Bissell    &   Co.'s 

blubberin'.     Mr.   Ducklow,  that  bov  knows    some-    „  .   .     ~  ' 

'  -  Estate  Bonds. 

thin'  about  Reuben's  cowpon  bonds." 

"Thaddeus!"  ejaculated  both  Ducklows  at  once,  "did  you 
touch   them   bonds?" 

"Didn't    know   what    they   was!"    whimpered    Taddy. 

"Did  you  take  them?"  And  the  female  Ducklow  grasped 
his   shoulder. 

"  Hands  off,  if  you  please  !  "  remarked  Miss  Beswick,  with 
frightfully  gleaming  courtesy.  "  I  told  him,  if  he'd  be  a  good 
boy,  and  come  along  with  Richard,  and  tell  the  truth,  he 
shouldn't  be  hurt.  If  you  please,"  she  repeated,  with  a  majes- 
tic  nod  ;  and    Mrs.    Ducklow   took   her   hands   off. 

"Where  are  they  now?  where  are  they?"  cried  Ducklow, 
rushing  headlong   to    the   main    question. 

"  Don't    know,"    said    Taddy. 

"Don't  know?  you  villain!"  And  Ducklow  was  rising 
in   wrath.       But    Miss    Beswick    put    up    her    hand    deprecating- 

"If  you  please  !"  she  said  with  grim  civility;  and  Ducklow 
sank    down    again. 

"  What  did  you  do  with  'em  ?  what  did  you  want  of  'em  ? " 
said  Mrs.  Ducklow,  with  difficulty  restraining  an  impulse  to 
wring   his  neck. 

"  To   cover  my  kite,"    confessed   the   miserable   Taddy. 

"  Cover  your  kite  !  your  kite  !  "  A  chorus  of  groans  from 
the   Ducklows.     "Didn't   you   know  no   better?" 

"Didn't  think  you'd  care,"  said  Taddy.  "I  had  some  news- 
papers  Dick   gave   me    to   cover   it  ;    but   I    thought   them   things 

91 


u'd  be  pootier.  So  I  took  'em,  and  put  the  newspapers  in 
the    wrapper." 

"Did    ye    cover   yer    kite?" 

"  Xo.  When  I  found  out  you  cared  so  much  about  'em,  I 
dars'n't ;    I    was    afraid    you'd    see    'em." 

"Then    what   did  you    do    with    'em?" 

"  When  you  was  away,  Dick  come  over  to  sleep  with  me, 
and    I — I    sold    'em    to  him." 

"  Sold    'em   to  Dick  !  " 

"Yes,"   spoke    up    Dick,    stoutly,    "for   six    marbles,  and    one 

was   a   bull's-eye,    and    one   agate,  and    two    alleys.      Then,    when 

you  come  home  and  made  such  a  fuss,  he  wanted  'em  ag'in.     But 

he  wouldn't  give  me  back  but  four,   and   I  wa'n't 
It    is    a    good 

rule  to  invest  going  to    agree  to  no    such    nonsense   as  that." 

money    through  „  r<j     jQSt     the    bulrs.eve    and    one    common," 

old-established, 

experienced, and  whined    Taddy. 

conservative  ..  Bm    the    bonds ,    did      ou    destroy     em?" 

Bankers.     The 

firm  of  Geo.  P.  "  Likely    I'd    destroy  'em,  after    I'd    paid    six 

Bissell  &  Co.  is  marbleS  for  'em!"  said  Dick.  "I  wanted  'em  to 
such  a  house. 

cover  my  kite  with." 

"Cover  your — oh!  then  you've  made  a  kite  of  'em?"  said 
Ducklow. 

"  Well,  I  was  going  to,  when  Aunt  Beswick  ketched  me  at 
it.  She  made  me  tell  where  I  got  'em,  and  took  me  over  to 
your  house  jest  now;  and  Taddy  said  you  was  over  here,  and 
so  she  put  ahead,  and  made  us  follow  her." 

Again,  in  an  agony  of  impatience,  Ducklow  demanded  to 
know  where  the  bonds  were  at  that  moment. 

"  If  Taddy'll  give  me  back  my  marbles,"  began  Master  Dick. 

"That'll  do!"  said  Miss  Beswick,  silencing  him  with  a  ges- 
ture. "  Reuben  will  give  you  twenty  marbles  ;  for  I  believe  you 
said  they  was  Reuben's  bonds,  Mr.  Ducklow?" 

92 


"  Yes,  that  is "  stammered  the  adopted  father. 

"  Eventooally,"  struck  in  the  adopted  mother. 

"Now  look  here!  What  am  I  to  understand?  Be  they 
Reuben's  bonds,  or  be  they  not?  That's  the  question!"  And 
there  was  that  in  Miss  Beswick's  look  which  said,  "  If  they 
are  not  Reuben's,  then  your  eyes  shall  never  behold  them 
more  !  " 

"  Of  course  they're  Reuben's!"     "We  intended  all  the  while 

"      "  His   benefit "      "  To   do    jest   what   he    pleases    with 

'em,"  chorused   Pa  and  Ma  Ducklow. 

"  Wal !  now  it's  understood  !  Here,  Reuben,  are  your  cowpon 
bonds !" 

And  Miss  Beswick,  drawing  them  from  her  bosom,  placed 
the  precious  documents,  with  formal  politeness,  in  the  glad 
soldier's  agitated  hands. 

"Glory!"    cried     Reuben,    assuring    himself    that    they   were 

genuine  and  real.     "  Sophrony,  you've  got  a  home  ! 

_,  ,  ,  Geo.  P.  Bissell 

Ruby,  Carrie,  you  ve  got  a  home!     Miss  Beswick!    &    Co      never 

you  angel   from   the    skies!    order  a  bushel  and  a    speculate     and 

never  take  spec- 
half  of    marbles  for  Dick,  and  have    the    bill    sent    uiatiVe   orders 

to  me!     Oh,  Pa  Ducklow!  you  never  did  a  nobler    forstocks  "ona 

margin."  They 
or  more  generous  thing  in  your  life.  These  will  do  a  stea(jy  old- 
lift  the  mortgage,  and  leave  me  a  nest-egg  besides,  fashioned,  safe 
T,  ,  T        .  ,       ,  ,  .  banking   busi- 

Ihen  when  1  get    my  back   pa}-,  and   my  pension,    ness 

and    my  health   again,    we    shall    be    independent." 

And  the  soldier,  overcome  by  his   feelings,  sank  back  in  the 

arms   of  his  wife. 

"We  always  told  you  we'd   do   well  by  ye,   you  remember?" 

said   the    Ducklows,   triumphantly. 

The   news    went    abroad.      Again    congratulations    poured   in 

upon  the    returned   volunteer.      Everybody  rejoiced    in   his  good 

fortune — especially  certain    rich   ones   who  had   been  dreading  to 

93 

I 


see   Miss  Beswick    come   round   with  her   proposed  subscription- 
paper. 

Among  the  rest,  the  Ducklows  rejoiced  not  the  least;  for 
selfishness  was  with  them,  as  it  is  with  many,  rather  a  thing  of 
habit  than  a  fault  of  the  heart.      The    catastrophe    of    the    bonds 

broke    up   that  life-long  habit,  and   revealed  good 
Geo.  P.  Bissell 
&    Co.    invite    nearts   underneath.     The  consciousness  of  having 

correspondence    done    an    act    of    justice,     although    by    accident, 

from    investors 

with    small    proved    very    sweet    to    them ;     it    was    really    a 

means  as  well  as    fresh    sensation;   and   Reuben    and    his    dear   little 
from  those  hav- 
ing large  sums,    family,    saved     from     ruin     and     distress,    happy, 

A  person  having    thankful,  glad,  was  a  sight  to  their  old  eyes  such 
only    one    thou- 
sand dollars  will    as    triev   had    never    witnessed    before.     Not    gold 

receive  the  same    itself,  in    any    quantity,    at    the    highest    premium, 

attention  that  is  . 

given   to   one    cou^  have  given  them  so  much  satisfaction;  and 

having  ten  times    as   for   coupon    bonds,    they    are    not    to    be    men- 
that  amount.  .    , 

tioned    in    the    comparison. 

"Wont  you  do  well  by  me  some  time,  too?"  teased  little 
Taddy,  who  overheard  his  adopted  parents  congratulating  them- 
selves on  having  acted  so  generously  by  Reuben.  "  I  don't  care 
for  no  cowpon  bonds,  but  I  do  want  a  new  drum  ! " 

"  Yes,  yes,  my  son  !  "  said  Ducklow,  patting  the  boy's 
shoulder. 

And  the  drum  was  bought. 

Taddy  was  delighted.  But  he  did  not  know  what  made  the 
Ducklows  so  much  happier,  so  much  gentler  and  kinder,  than 
formerly.     Do  you? 


94 


We  trust  that  the  financial  notes  accompanying  the  above 
story  will  not  be  without  their  value  in  conveying  the 

MORAL 
which  this  story  proves,  that  Real  Estate  Mortgages,  such 
as  we  sell,  are  better  than  Governments ;  for,  as  in  this  case 
so  it  will  be  in  all  others,  the  Governments  will  be  sold  and 
friends  will  come  to  the  rescue  rather  than  that  a  man  shall 
be  turned  out  of  his  home  by  foreclosure. 

The  Mortgage  on  Rueben's  home  (and  it  would  have 
been  the  same  if  it  had  been  on  his  store)  must  be  paid  and 
taken  care  of  in  any  event,  and  the  owner  of  that  Mortgage 
had  a  safer  investment  than  anything  else  on  earth. 


I 


